We see the world
through Black eyes
A Christmas Message
Good advice
Congratulations to Commission« Chartes Jor
dan, the first elected official to publicly support
the Community Coalition for School Integration
position.
In his statement to the School Board (ably
delivered by Ms. Anna Street) Jordan said the
real issue is how do we integrate our schools
while insuring, as the Coalition report states,
equity, Quality education, interracial understand
ing and acc e p ta n ce , and neighborhood in
tegrity?"
He advised the Board to act quickly, before
factions become too intrenched. He recommen
ded that the School Board instruct Supennten-
dent Blanchard to "return to the drawing board
and develop a plan that will achieve the objec
tives of the Coalition's report . . . Granted there
may be some logistical problems with the Coali
tion s strategies. If so, let Dr. Blanchard, given
his knowledge of what is and isn’t practical or
possible, return to you a plan that is solid in ail
respects."
There are other elected offcials who support
equity in desegregation. Let them step forward
now.
The Christmas season has arrived once again
and it brings to mind Christ s teachings that all
men are brothers - that all people are neighbors.
This is something that we must remember as
we face the year ahead - a year that is certain to
be one of stuggle, of conflict of anger.
Urgent issues win be decided - desegregation
of the Portland schools, the use of federal funds
as it relates to minorities. A new administration
will take over state government. The legislature
will deal with taxes again. There will be a school
board election. Unemployment and inflation will
further exacerbate the situation.
W e must remember that honest and sincere
people can disagree, that opponents don't have
to be vicious. But we must be firm in our com
mitments and oppose racism where we find it.
W e know that in the end the truth will be
known and justice will prevail.
The Challenge of the Eighties
(Continued from page 1 col. 6)
no grade levels exist in their com
munities. Based on careful calcula
tions, conservatively compiled, the
Coalition estimates this figure to be
no less than 700 students and
perhaps as high as 821. Furthermore,
w ith the extensive recruitm ent
program which entices Black students
to transfer by convincing them and
their parents that their local schools
are inferior, it is quite likely that
many Black children would never
have left their neighborhood schools
w ith o ut aggressive proding from
school personnel.
No wonder achievement in Albina
schools is low; upper grades have
been eliminated and students have
been transported out; and the best o f
those who rem ain are actively
recruited under the official conten
tion th a t they w ill get a better
education elsewhere.
In his response to the Coalition's
recommendations. Dr Blanchard at
tempted to soothe the souls of those
in the C o a litio n
by saying,
"Regretably, equity, like justice, is a
virtue seldom found in pure fo rm ."
W e regret, as D r. Blanchard does,
that equity does not exist in pure
form, but the question should not be
“ pure" form or no form at all. We
feel absolutely certain that equity can
be achieved in its lesser forms, and it
can be motivated in that direction by
a true sense o f fairness, a sense o f
sharing the o blig atio ns o f com
munity living, and by a will to seek
“ pure eq uity,” though it may be
elusive. W h at, therefore, does the
Coalition propose?
The Virtu«« of School Pairing
We recommend that the Board of
Education implement by September
1980 a plan o f school pairing. School
pairing involves the combination of
one school, which is predominately
m inority, with one or two schools
which are p re d o m in a te ly w hite.
Having studied the problem, arguing
heatedly o ver every issue, the
Coalition believes now that school
pairing best meets the principles
which it has established as most i m
p o rta n t. The principles to which
pairing satisfactorily responds are: 1.
T hat desegregation is the law; 2.
That
desegregation
must
be
e q u ita b le ;
3.
That
P o rtla n d
desegregation is not equitable; 4 .
That school integration promotes
equal opportunity.
W e p a in s ta k in g ly worked our way
to the conclusion that school pairing
is ap p ro p riate and beneficial fo r
Portland, as we became increasingly
aware that a voluntary system would
not work. It had not worked before
1970 in Portland.And since 1970, it
has not been voluntary for increasing
num bers o f B lack c h ild re n . W'e
found no national example sufficient
to convince us that an all-voluntary
approach was a viable possibility.
School pairing is equitable. It
promotes quality education by forc
ing the school ad m in is tra tio n to
create model schools with integrated
students and staff and parents. It
fosters interracial understanding and
acceptance. A n d m o re than any
o th er
technique
o f e ffe c tiv e
desegregation, school pairing allows
the maintenance o f neighborhood in
tegrity.
Therefore, having labored its way
to this conclusion, the C o a litio n
recom m ended to the Board o f
Education on November 27th that it
implement a pairing plan which; 1.
Transfers enough whites and minority
students to bring its schools into
compliance with state guidelines; 2.
Involves both white and m inority
students in an equitable tw o-way
transfer program that keeps neigh
borhood classmates together; 3.
Eliminates the current scattering and
isolation o f minority students.
After listening very carefully and
quite respectfully to D r. Blanchard’ s
reactions to the pairing recommen
dation. the Coalition met last Wed
nesday evening at the King Facility in
Northeast Portland. A fter analyzing
his contention that there may be
“ unsolvable" problems, I can assure
you that we are confident in the
quality o f our recommendations. W'e
think pairing will work. W e think it
is advantageous educationally. We
th in k th e “ lo g is tic a l'* problem s
related to such a change can be sur
mounted, if there is a will on the pan
o f the Board o f E d u c a tio n to
establish an e q u ita b le , tw o -w a y
desegregation program in Portland.
As Friends of Education
It is with great confidence that 1
say, “ I am a frie n d o f p u b lic
education." I have spent a good deal
o f tim e and energy speaking and
writing as to my understanding of
the requirem ents fo r p ro p e rly
preparing this generation o f youth
for a world rapidly changing. There
is no system more important to the
health o f a free society than
education.
As a citizen devoted to improved
education, I speak with authority in
asserting th a t the Board o f
Education has no better friends than
those who have committed them
selves to the Coalition's purposes. It
is im portant, therefore, to realize
th a t, w h ile our analysis has
generated sharp criticism , we are
fully m indful o f the difficult task
which faces the members o f the
School Board.
The essence o f o ur thrust fo r
change has never been intended as an
attack on the integrity o f the Board
o f E du catio n. R ather, our m o ti
vation to w ork tow ard equitable
change in desegregation is drawn
from an appreciation for the spirit o f
public education in America. As the
scholar, D ia n e R a v itc h , puts it.
* Because education is so bound up
with the interest and values o f the
public, and because these interests
and values continually shift over
time, educational policy can never be
static. It is forever in the process o f
becom ing, fo rever a subject o f
proper concern, forever in need o f
reform ation."
This is the spirit in which we have
made our recommendations, and this
is the spirit o f which we are most
proud.
PORTLAND OBSERVER
C om m u nity Servie»
O N P A 1973
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A kF R E u L HENDERSON
Editor/Publish«?
The Portland Otaerver's o fftaal position is rxprissed only id iu
Publisher s column (We See The World Through Black fcyesi Any
other material throughout the paper is the opinion o f the individual
writer or submitter and does ixx necessarily reflect the opinion ot -he
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Reflectfoa
or
a Christmas Eve
by N . Fungai Kumbula
I am sitting her« today, daydream
ing about a Christmas dinner. I can
see the turkey — big. plump, juicy,
s c ru m p tio u s -lo o k in g ,
and
the
dressing — mouth-watering. But I
also have this nightmare thai 1 am
unable to eat the sumptious feast
because I can see a lot o f hungry
children the length and breadth o f
this miserable world. I am asking
myself: W hy is this world so unfair?
Why is it that these children never get
a chance? Why do some people have
so much money they feed their dogs,
cats and iguanas better than some
families can feed their children?
1 am just now reading about the
plight o f the refugees in M o zam
bique. Botswana and Zambia. There
are almost 300.000 o f these displaced
people, most o f them women and
children They have been dislodged
by the fighting in Rhodesia and the
upheavals in South A frica. In ad
dition to them, there are also the
500,000 that are forced to live in
concentration camps in Rhodesia
called “ p rotected v illa g e s .” For
them too, life is a hell on earth.
I hear the Christinas jingles every
where now : “ Peace on E a rth .
Goodwill to all People” and I ask
myself: “ W hat peace? what good
w ill?" A ll the suffering I am looking
at now is caused by self-proclaimed
good, honest Christians, some o f
whom attend church regularly. Some
o f them are even “ men o f the d o th .”
A fter they have come home from
preaching the gospel “ love thy
neighbor.'* they sit down and pass
death sentences on th e ir fe llo w
human beings who only demand the
same type o f treatment that is accord
ed their lighter skinned brethren.
Every time 1 think about it, I get so
discouraged because the w orld is
such a mess. Someday, I too shall
take a wife and when I do, I look
forward to bringing one or two more
souls into this world. But, I can also
hear a voice asking me: " W h y , when
the world is such a mess?” How can
I explain to them the difference be
tween love and hate? They will be
coming into a world that preaches
love but practices hate. How can-1
explain why some people discrimi
nate against others? W hy they can
not go to this or that school, get this
or that job?
The more 1 look at it, the less I like
this world, but what can I do? 1 can
not run away from these problems.
The one thing 1 can do is do my share
to clean up the mess. No price is too
high, no sacrifice too much if it will
bring a smile o f joy. a ray o f hope to
those innocent little ones. They
deserve a better chance then we get.
Let’s give them a break.
Sometimes 1 think 1 am nothing
but a dreamer. 1 keep dreaming o f a
utopia where we can all get an even
break. However, 1 think there is no
harm in dreaming. A fter all, if the
ancient Egyptians had not dreamed
past all "obstacles," we would never
have had the great pyramids or the
treasures o f “ brother” King T ut.
Were it not for a dream, Mrs. Rosa
Parks would not have given up her
seat and M artin Luther King never
would have picked up the civil rights
call. Much o f present-day indepen
dent
A fric a
w ould
still
be
languishing in colonial shackles. The
list goes on.
Maybe we can give those children
some belated presents a fte r a ll.
M a y b e i t ’ s a th ro w b ack to my
childhood, but I always think o f
Christmas, Kwanza and New Year's
as having special significance for
children. A fter the 2nd o f January I
will be initiating a clothing drive;
th at is co llectin g used, but s till
durable clothing for the refugees in
Southern Africa. Because o f the way
in which most o f (hem fled the war
zones, the only clothes they have are
those on their backs. So, if you have
some used jean s, sh irts, shoes
(preferably boots), blankets, dresses
that you no longer need, you might
consider d o n a tin g them to the
"Southern Africa Refugee Clothing
D rive.” U ntil 1 can set up alternative
arrangements, inquiries can be for
warded to me either through the Port
la n d O bserver o r T h e A m erican
Friends Service Committee. Medical
supplies such as disposable syringes
would also be most welcome.
This is what 1 have always believed
the holiday season to mean: the one
occasion in the year when we pause
to th in k o f fa m ily and frien d s,
neighbors and kin. That old pair o f
jeans that has been taking up space
in the house or the garage for the
past two years will probably make a
very meaningful present for one not
so fortunate kid. It w ill keep him
smiling for a year because, first, it
will keep him decently covered and
second, it may be the only piece o f
clothing he will have this year. This
would only be the humble beginnings
o f this magnanimous dream to bring
a smile to the face o f every child on
the face o f the earth. There may be
hope yet for humanity.
A n d , on this ch e e rfu l n ote,
w hether you w ill be celebrating
Kwanza. Christmas, New Year’s, or
nothing at all: "H a p p y Holidays." I,
for one am thankful for all the friends
1 have met and made through this
column. For all o f us, may 1979 be a
revolutionary year in all walks o f
Bfe.
Through the eyes o f Mr. W.
by H aro ld C. Williams
For the last five years A ffirm ative
Action in the State o f Oregon has
been the gateway for hope for many
disadvantaged people. Opportunities
were realized for some who never
imagined that they would nse to such
levels. How ever, there were some
who still did not make it through the
gate o f hope, and Affirmative Action
was not able to lift them over the
threshold o f hatred, mistrust, pain
and disappointment.
Many people have said that there
was very little achieved through the
efforts o f A ffirm ative Action and
the progress was slow, but what does
one say to a man that yesterday was
starving but today his stomach is full
and he has the vigor that is reflected
in his health? Do you say he didn't
have a meal because steak was not
served9 Do you say the wagon was
not moved because it did not go a
mile, only a block? Everything is
relevant and the success o f A ffir
mative A ction
and other efforts
like those undertaken in the areas o f
equal opportunity must be visualized
away from the shoulders o f a few
people but put in vision as the
responsibility o f the total people.
Black people and other people of
color have gained some inroads, but
it is not yet enough. Those who have
broken into the halls o f opportunity
must be applauded, supported and
pushed to higher grounds, for with
out allies in the system we would
cease to have goals toward oppor
tunity.
The B akke case began the
slowdown on opportunity for Blacks
and other minorities, and now we are
faced with the Weber case (Weber vs.
Kaiser Aluminum) which if upheld
by the U .S . Supreme Court will bring
a total standstill to the efforts o f
A ffirm ative Action and throw the
progress o f Blacks and other
minorities back to the pre-1950’s. It
is im p o rta n t th at Black people
become politically astute and pick
the persons who will echo the in
terests o f Black people in the
legislative bodies o f our State and
nation.
Though the Black population in
Oregon is relatively sm all, it can
make a difference in the political
arena One vote can be as important
as 100 with the important issues that
are on the rise and facing all people
in today’s society. A ffirm ative Ac
tion was one o f the voices that gave
vision to a people who had been kept
out o f the way o f opportunity. The
question now is how many people
will make demands on A ffirm ative
Action in the coming years, to speak
for the needs o f oppressed people.
For if the demands are not made it is
most assured that nothing will be
done.
The year 1979 can be a year o f
new birth fo r the unity o f Black
people, or it can be the rebirth o f
“ d ivid e and co n q u e r” o f Black
people. The question is, "which will
be chosen?" These last five years in
the field o f A ffirm ative Action have
allowed me an opportunity to touch
and h o p e fu lly bring a positive
change in many people's lives and I
thank you, the public, for that op
portunity.
January 5, 1979, will be my final
day as Director o f A ffirm ative Ac
tion for the State o f Oregon, but it is
not the final day for A ffirm ative Ac
tion. The question now is, “ W ill we
ail be for action that is affirm ative
for Black people?”
Peace and God bless.
Ward earns Peyton Award
(Continued form page 1 col. 3)
tegratxjn — and called upon to again go
before the School Board pointing out
the inequities and asking for change.
The Coalition was formed in response
to the Newman Plan — a plan that
would have transferred Boise and
King 1979 graduates out o f Jefferson
High School. The Coalition research
ed desegregation efforts in Portland
and reached the conclusion that
segregation exists, that Blacks carry
the burden o f desegregation, and
th at some o f the desegregation
programs are destructive to Black
children. The Coalition has recom
mended school pairing and nine ad
d itio n a l supportive recom m en
d atio n s. S up erin ten den t R obert
Blanchard has called the Coalition
recommendations " a considerable
over reaction" and advised that pair
ing might be "unsolvable” .
W ard believes the Coalition will
prevail. " I don’t exactly know why,
but I have a feeling that the Board
will overturn the Superintendent’ s
recommendations and adopt pairing.
They don't seem to be very aware o f
what has been taking place — they
depend on the Superintendent to
supply their information and don't
get out and ask questions. When they
read the Coalition’s report and go
over the information and the figures
we have provided, 1 think they will
understand what is happening to
Black youngsters. Then I think they
will adopt our recommendations. We
only have one member we can rely on
— who is with us — W ally Priestley
— but I believe the others will have
to be w ith us when they u nder
stand.”
W a rd ’ s activities have not been
restricted to the N A A C P and the
education issue. He received one o f
the initial appointments to the Model
Cities Citizens’ Advisory Committee
fro m M a y o r T e rry S hrunk and
remained on the board through the
life o f the program. He is a member
o f the boards of directors o f the Boys
Club o f Portland, the Progressive
Businessman’ s C lu b , Em anuel
Hospital and the Royal Esquire Club
o f Portland. He is a Commissioner
o f the
M e tro p o lita n
H um an
Relations Commission, chairman of
the Education Committee.
For the past ten years Ward has
been an Employee Representative for
the Oregon
State Employees
Association and will retire at the end
o f December. Previously he was a
state employee with the Oregon State
Welfare Department.
The award will be presented on
January 23, 1979, at Westminster
Presbyterian Church at 1624 N .E .
H a n c o c k , at a noon luncheon.
Previous winners are: Tom Sloan,
Tektronix; Jack Mills, U.S. National
Bank; E. Shelton H ill, Urban League
o f P o rtla n d ; A . Lee Henderson,
Portland Observer; and Mrs. Marie
Smith.
Desegregation
(Continued from page I col. 6)
and the state requires no more than
50 per cent m inority. It would be
simpler to reach a 50 /5 0 ratio and
would require less cross-bussing.
The district has not adhered to its
own policy in the past. The Fern-
wood cluster is 26 per cent minority
and the Beaumont cluster is 29 per
cent m in o rity , yet Irv in g to n and
Sabin are over 50 per caent minority
and no white students were tran
sferred into them.
Why, when the Coalition is asking
the district to ca rry out its
acknowledged affirm ative duty, has
it suddenly become necessary to be
30 per cent m inority.”
C a llin g the p airin g proposal
w o rk a b le , she to ld the B oard,
"W hen you are willing to look at the
pairing proposal in the light o f these
issues, we want to help you work
over the details.”