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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1979)
" . . . J Portland O b - r v . , ThurM . y ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1«79 EDITORIAL/OPINION The makings of Shaba III by N. Fungai Kumbula School Board lacks leadership T he Portland P o rtla n d School i r h n n l Board R n a rri H The has been repeated ly accused of failure to provide responsible lead ership, and these charges come from many seg ments of the community. Two glaring examples of this lack of leadership occurred this week. Although there has been public discussion of Monday's eclipse of the sun since early fall, and although nearly every school district in the United States and Canada that was in the path of the eclipse opened school early in order to insure that children were properly supervised, the Portland School District decided to do nothing. Then, at the last moment, they announced that school opening time would be delayed. For months they had known about the eclipse, and the fact that it would occur at the time that children would normally be on their way to school, but the decision was given only a few hours before the eclipse, when it was too late for parents to make arrangements for child care or for changing their work hours. This makes one wonder whether the decision to delay school opening was done out of concern for students or whether it came as a response to the danger of legal action over injury to children while in the care of the school district — on school buses or on school property. Another incident that demonstrates a lack of leadership is the racial abuse of Black students from Jefferson and Adams High Schools by students from Roosevelt High School. This type of behavior by high school students is a direct result of the racist policies of the district. An education emphasizing the multi-cultural educa tion, in an integrated setting, would do much to alternate the hostilities and fears that are the basis of these attacks. Proper respect for Black and other minority students, parents and com munities by the school administration and Board would indicate to white students that this type of behavior will not be tolerated. Much has been said of the racial hostility in the homes from which these students come — lower class white families who have traditionally had to com pete with minorities for the few benefits left over for them — but the truth is that much of that racism has been learned right in the classroom. Frank McNamara's accusation that the Com munity Coalition for School Integration's call for equity in sharing the burdens of segregation is really a demand for retribution against whites is a good example. Joe Rieke's statement that to up set the white community is bad politics because "Blacks have to integrate with whites" is an indi cation that the Board's concept of integration is that it is a one way street — or a one-way bus ride. What the Board refuses to recognize - or at least to admit - is that its policies and programs are discriminating against Black children. The Coalition's failure is to label it what it is - racism pure and simple. Another Point o f View Political action key to future taken from The Milwaukee Courier by Carl Hubbard 1978 was a year which taught Black Americans some harsh lessons in self-reliance, a year in which we had to face some very ugly social and political realities. Allen Bakke's legal triumph dealt a stunning blow to affirmative action prin ciples, a cornerstone of Black economic and edu cational progress in recent years. The Carter ad ministration demonstrated clearly that its romance with us was over. Promised judicial and admini strative appointments, urgently needed urban development and welfare reform measures, more jobs for Blacks — all these failed to materialize. Black politicos across the country were scrutinized, investigated, indicted, and ejected from office in overwhelming numbers, too often because of their own unsavory actions. The liberal white constituency which once supported (verbally, at least) our progressive efforts seems to have vanished in 1978. Yes, white America is singing a new tune, and there's hardly a note of soul in it. If we Blacks want our voices to be heard in this great republic in 1979, we had better begin practicing our own song — a song of self-reliance. If we want better schools, neighborhoods, and jobs, we had better start working on it ourselves. Let’s not wait for President Carter or the legislature or anyone else. In 1979, let us, as Black Americans, commit our selves to the determination of our own destinies. Let us resolve to improve our communities our selves, to better educate ourselves, to reduce the crimes in our neighborhoods ourselves, to take the responsibility for change into our own Black hands. The key to our political and economic evolution in 1979 or any other year is self-activism. Black Americans can no longer afford the luxuries of political ignorance and non-participation. Depart ment of Commerce statistics for the last Congres sional election showed that only 37 percent of eligible Blacks voted, arid in 1978 it cost us dearly. Politicians, a breed quick to realize when they are standing on shaky ground, figured out that a great many of us were on the basketball courts, when we should have been at the balloting machines. They are getting the idea that we are not a serious political force — and they are right. As a result, minority rights and social reform issues are being chucked for more popular, vote getting platforms such as energy conservation and tax reduction. The National Urban League has predicted that 1979 will be a year of crisis for minorities and the poor. The question at the crux of that crisis is Can we establish ourselves as an economic and political power to be reckoned with and respect ed?'' In this, acritical pre-election year, you can be sure our efforts will be closely regarded. As we face the challenges of 1979, let us put to good use the lessons of 1978, for in the succinct words of George Santayana, "Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it." McNamara charges Coalition vindictive (Continued from page 1 col. 6) rules.” Forest Reike, Board member, ob jected to the Coalition referring to desegregation as a m oral issue, stating that it is a political issue. Board member Evie Crowell said there seems to be many people who think they know exactly what the community wants but don’t think the Board knows. Saying she had talked to a school person and an Urban League o ffic ia l from Seattle and found there are problems with the Seattle pairing plan. Also, we have to think about the electorate when 62% o f the voters did not want busing beyond the next contiguous school. She recommended not trying school pairing in Portland at this time be cause there might be problems with it in other cities. The League o f Women Voters and the Metropolitan Human Relations Commission expressed their support of pairing. 1st Place Community Service ONPA 1973 PORTLAND OBSERVER Ist Place Best Ad Results ONPA 1973 * * * P'ibi* h,n^ Company, 2201 North 97217 M8rt,nû add,e« p 0 Box 3137, Portland Oregon 97208 Telephon 283 2 4 « 5th Place Best Editorisi NNPA 1973 Subscriptions «7 50 per /ear in the Tri-County area »8 00 per. voar outside Portland Second Claes Postage Paid at Portland. Oregon p íX Í,^ n í Ofc“ ’^ ' Je 0ff'C,” pO8rtw’ " only m rt. Honorable Mention Herrick Editoria! Award NNA 1973 ublisher * coiumi I W e See The World Through Black Eyes) Any w n t e r ^ s X i'ih e ' he P8P* ' ” ” ” ° ' ,he " ,'v'du81 ALFRED L. HENDERSON Editor/Publisher National Advertising Representative Am algam ated Publishers. Inc N ew York 2nd Place Best Editoria! 3rd Place Comm unity Leadership ONPA 1976 Place Comm unity Leadership ONPA 1978 Mf MRH Oregon H e I I p A pep Association - PoundM >999 Newspaper f Publishers i Association The last time Shaba was in the news, we were bombarded with the grisly details about the 94 whites who were •‘ massacred” and the 1,000 Blacks who were “ killed.” In the wake o f the hysteria that followed. Belgium, France and West Germany sent a “ rescue” mission comprising m ostly elements o f the French Foreign Legion to “ rescue trapped Europeans." The Carter A d m in i stration provided the planes that were used for the a irlift as well as other “ non m ilitary” equipment. A t the behest o f France and Belgium particularly, with the very active approval o f Britain, West Ger many and the U.S., a "Pan African Force" was set up for the purpose o f protecting A frican governments that are frie n d ly to the W est.” M orocco im m ediately dispatched 1,500 troops followed by Senegal which sent 600. Gabon and TOGO sent in another 140 and the Ivory Coast added 80 medical personnel. The rest o f Africa refused to send in any o f their troops and, as a matter o f fact, the whole idea o f a ‘ Pan A frican Force’ set up under the auspices o f foreign, former colonial powers caused a lot o f dissension at the following OAU meeting. This force had been set up specifi cally to counter the ‘ rebel’ threat from Angola. There was the under standing that, as soon as it was deter mined that the threat no longer exist ed, the force would be disbanded. That last invasion was last May. Since then, Angola (from where the former Katangese ‘ rebels’ had launched their two surprise attacks) and Zaire have patched up their differences. Each has promised not to offer sanc tuary to “ insurgents” bent on over throw ing the other governm ent. Zaire had been harboring FN LA terrorists who continued to harass the M P L A government after the latter won the Angola Civil War. Given the present synopsis, you would think the “ Inter African Force" as it is sometimes called, would be disbanded. But, far from being dis mantled, it is soon to be augmented by a force o f some 250 Belgian para troopers sent to “ protect the white communities o f Kinshasa and Kivu.” This was a very harsh harsh affair (remember the furore over the ’evau- cuation?") but the Belgian govern ment is said to have consulted with the U.S., Britain and France. Henri Sim onct, the Belgian foreign minister is said to have instructed Belgian journalists not to publish anything about the 250 paratroopers or their mission. The Moroccans are now being used to patrol the countryside for any signs o f ‘ rebel’ activity and, together with the Senegalese, also to patrol the streets o f Lubumbashi, the capital o f Shaba. The whites in the area vow they will leave the moment this “ Inter African Force” is with drawn. “ They arc the only thing pro tecting us from the Zairian arm y," says a Greek mechanic. He accused the Zairian troops o f stealing and lacking in discipline as well as fuel ing the crime rate. Shaba's Blacks regard both the Moroccans and the Zairian troops as occupying armies but, fear the Zairian troops more. They are only irregularly paid and so usually resort to bribing or robbing the locals. Against them, the impoverished locals are almost defenseless. Com mented one local teacher, “ We arc bothered that a country like ours, 17 years after independence, needs to rely on a foreign army. But, from the point o f view o f security, when you see a Moroccan soldier, you arc not afraid that he will stop you, rob you, or shake you down just for the fun of it . " Shaba is seething with discontent. There is a severe gasoline shortage. Zaire can only afford 60% of its fuel needs and, o f that, 90% is reserved for the capital, Kinshasa. In Lubum bashi the streets arc empty o f traffic. The factories that are still operating are only operating at 50% capacity. Due to a lack o f spare parts and materials. Unemployment is estimated at over 80% and inflation is currently above 100%. The price o f food has doubled over the past year alone. W hat few essential commodities there are, ranging from explosives for the mines to fruit and vegetables, come directly from A frica's arch enemies: Rhodesia and South Africa. Missionaries who have travelled the backroads come back w ith alarming stories o f a very disturbing rise in m alnutrition. Children run around with swollen bellies and red hair, clear signs o f kwashiokor, the^ protein deficiency disease. A Belgian financier sums up the situation thus: “ Frankly, the population is on a starvation diet. We arc sitting on a volcano." It is this kind o f discontent that sparked Shaba I and Shaba II. Shaba's mines earn 60% o f Zaire’s foreign exchange but, over the past decade, the central government has not built a single school, hospital or road in the area. The seeds for Shaba III have already been sown. It’s just a matter o f time before they ger minate, take root and sprout. Coalition responds to School Board F ollow ing is the C om m unity • It docs not mean that children conveniently assigned in a manner Coalition f o r School Integration re from one neighborhood w ill go to which promoted school integration, sponse to resolutions on student one or two schools. Children from the west side addresses the issues transfer adopted by the School King w ill go to seven d iffe re n t raised in its report and recommen Board on January 22nd. schools as standard assignments. dations. An “ interim” location does The Coalition sees this issue as the They can still be recruited to go to not encourage neighborhood sta heart o f the failure o f Portland others as well. bility. The fact that this point only Public Schools to treat its minority • The Black parent does not get deals with the Area I portions of children, specifically its Black the same choice as the white parent King and Humboldt is another in children, with equity. The Board and to send children to schools in or near dication o f the fragmentation o f Administration have not only failed their own neighborhood. students in predom inently Black to address themselves adequately to In short, the inequities in the communities. We find it extremely eliminating the basic inequity in their present Administrative Transfer pro frustrating that the Board continues present programs, but have refused gram will be perpetuated. to create policies which perpetuates to admit that the inequity exists. Point H2 — To establish appro the fragmentation and scattering of Let us turn now to the Board’s re priate priorities for attendance at children from the same neigh solution o f January 22nd, and see if Early Childhood Centers, especially borhoods. it adequately addresses the central as related to children resident in the Point H7 — To establish middle issue o f equity. attendance area o f the Early schools for Boise, Eliot, and Area 1 Point HI — To reduce scattering Childhood Center. sections o f King and Humboldt as while preserving parents’ choice. 5k e ask the Board to be very di “ expeditiously" as physical plants, We have become aware that a plan rect with the community in defining qualified staff and “ community ac to reduce the scattering o f Black how this w ill be achieved. As the ceptance” make the transition pos children is currently under considera ECEC’s are presently structured, ra sible. tion by the Administration. We have cial balance cannot be achieved The Board has no clear definition serious problems with this plan and unless some Black students are o f "com m unity acceptance.” This will comment on it in detail at a later denied access to their neighborhood criterion has been applied differently date. There are several points, school. throughout the community. This is however, which we can make here. Point H3 — To increase the atten inappropriate. • Reduction o f scattering ad dance o f majority students in Early Point US — To increase recruit dresses a symptom rather than curing Childhood Centers, particularly in ment o f majority students for atten the cause. the later primary grades. dance at middle schools from atten • It does not mean that fewer How will this be done? W ill the dance areas for which middle school Black children will be bused far from assignment o f white children to these clusters are not yet established. home. later grades be mandatory if they This point is so general as to not • It does not mean that the recruit come to take advantage o f the Pre- warrant response until a specific pro ment o f Black children out o f their Kindergarten and Kindergarten pro gram is put forward. It is imperative neighborhood schools will cease. grams? W ill white children from that the district involve citizens in the Does this resolution mean that this Kindergarten programs elsewhere in development o f this program. segregationist policy w ill continue the city be encouraged by this district Point H9 — To include the Area I under the guise o f “ appropriate to come to the ECEC when they portion o f Woodlawn in the Ockley latitude?” This paragraph needs sub reach First Grade? W ill the programs Green middle school cluster. stantial clarification as to its intent and teaching levels o f those grades be Here again the Board is pursuing a and consequences. improved to the point where the d iscrim in a to ry policy which Points five through nine deal with white parents will be anxious to have fragments neighborhoods and scat the entire middle school question as their children stay in those grades? ters children. Why continue to spIfF it applies to integrating the student Then, the Black children, who start the W oodlawn neighborhood in population. even in intellectual and scholastic de half? Why not assign all Woodlawn The C o a litio n asked fo r three velopment at the Pre-K and Kinder students to one middle school and all middle schools so that Black parents garten level, w ill not have fallen mea- Vernon students to another? would have the same educational sureably behind by Third or Fourth Point MO — To provide a choice choices that white parents now en grade. other than middle schools for parents joy. Point #4 — To provide appro o f upper grade students in the atten The Board responded to this with: priate latitude for parents o f primary dance area o f an Early Childhood Point H5 — “ To provide a middle grade students involved in a middle Center. school for children of the Boise and school conversion to choose the This policy requires the continued Eliot attendance area.” Then the primary school which their children active recruitment o f the best quali Board “ requested” the superinten will attend within the middle school fied Black students out o f their own dent to "consider” Boise and Eliot cluster. neighborhoods. It not only w ith as middle school sites. What is the objective here? How is draws the best students but also While this response “ suggests” a this d iffe re n t from the present dissipates the impact o f those Black change in previous Board policy policy? parents most concerned with the which converts all the elementary In our statement to the Board on quality o f their childrens’ educa schools in the Black community to December 11, 1978, we described tion. Early Childhood Education Centers, how Beaumont P rim ary students This continues to foster the false it falls far short o f providing equal were assigned to Alameda and not and dangerous impression that Black choices fo r parents in the Black Sabin; how Fernwood primary stu children can only get a “ quality” community. dents were assigned to Laurelhurst education outside their own com Point H6 — To provide on an " in and not Irvington, and how, in 1980, munity. terim basis” an upper grade center or Ockley-Green students w ill be Does this mean that the active re centers on the west side for Area I assigned to Kenton, Beach, and cruitment o f Black students out o f King and Humboldt children. C hief Joseph. The Ockley-Green their own neighborhood w ill con The Coalition does not see how the children and those from Beaumont tinue? I f so, is there a program to creation o f upper grade “ centers” on and Fernwood could have been as (Please turn to page 4 col. 3)
