Paga 2 P ortlan d O bserver February 28. 1980 EDITORIAL/OPINION AFRICANA By N. Fungat Kumbula No School Board unity The call for unity has been made in the press and among School Board "W a tch e rs." This call comes from the apparent confusion and indecisiveness of the "N ew Board." Some blame this on the fact that the new Board is made up of seven highly independent people each of whom sometimes finds it d if­ ficult to subordinate his own goals to those of the six other individualists. Board members are being urged to unite and present a unified front in order to gam the confidence of the public. We don t want a unified board. The "old Board was a unified board, w ith the decisions made by the superintendent and one or two Board members, with automatic approval by the remainder of the Board - often w ith out public discussion. Theoretically, at least, seven individuals, each w ith their own unique background, in open and free discussion, and w ith equal sta tu s and respect, w ill reach the best decision. Isn't that how democracy is suppose to work? The confusion on the Board is not the result of having seven independent members. It has several sources: - Insufficient material provided by the staff too late for Board members to make indepen­ dent studies and w ith o u t the facts, figures, ju s tific a tio n s and pro je ctio n s necessary to make sound decisions. - A shift in leadership and influence on the Board. The new "m a jo rity" are under pressure to produce, especially in the vital area of desegreation, and chairman Bill Scott has to prove his worth by firm ing up the process as his predecessor was unable to do. - Lack of confidence in the Superintendent. Several members of the school Board have serious questions as to the Superintendent's ability and even willingness to adapt to new policies and changed priorities. On the other hand, the Superintendent has strong support­ ers on the Board. Should a new Superinten­ dent, one who will eagerly anticipate and par­ ticipate in educational and structural changes be selected? Until this question is addressed and resolved, the tensions w ithin the Board will continue. This unresolved question not only affects the Board s relationship w ith its superinten­ dent, but causes instability w ith in his staff. Those who have not yet determined where the power lies are still walking a tightrope. These conflicts have come to a head during the past m o n th 's d e lib e ra tio n s over Merriwether Lewis School. Most of the Board members considered the inform ation present­ ed by the Area II staff to be insufficient, yet the Superintendent and staff members angrily and hostily defended their performance. O ut­ bursts of anger tow ard the Board in public meetings do not add to the public confidence. Neither does the excuse that Board members are new and inexperienced and therefore are at fault. The "N ew Board" is having its problems - but most of those problems are related to the question of taking the power that is theirs as elected representaives of the people. To judge the candidates The Congressional Black Caucus has adopt­ ed a set of guidelines for evaluating president­ ial ca n d id a te s . (See page o ne , These guidelines cover a broad spectrum of issues of vital importance to Black voters; em ployment, h o u sin g , h e a lth , ene rg y, e d u c a tio n , c iv il rignts, budget priorities, etc. The Observer w ill use these guidelines - w h ic h in the m ost p art parallel our ow n editorial positions - in the endorsem ent of political candidates. These guidelines - which can also be extended to local and regional issues - can provide the voter a m ethod to e valuate the c a n d id a te 's s ta te m e n ts and promises. Notes from City Hall By Charles Jordan, Commissioner of Public Safety /r « late night. You’ve just wit­ nessed a crime. A police officer is urgently needed and you're wonder­ ing how do / get a police car to the scene right away? Call the Police Emergency num­ ber 760-6911 and first tell the operator the address of »here you are, the reason for the call and the telephone number of the phone you are using Don’ t hang up!!! The operator may need more in­ formation for your safety and the safety o f the officers responding to your call. So, stay on the line and ans»er all the questions. ( If it’ s safe to do so.) Be prepared to provide a physical description o f the suspect; i.e., male or female, height, »eight, hair color, skin color, type of clothing, type of car, anything odd or unusual about the suspect and the time of day you saw the incident. A police officer » ill respond in most cases within 3 to 5 minutes. This is one o f many questions I » ill explore in this column each week. It is o f vital importance that citizens know and understand what their police officer’s job is and how he or she goes about it. It is equally important that citizens understand what their rights are and how to conduct themselves during a ’ ’ stop” to receiwe the best service from a police agency. It is evening. You 're in a hurry to the grocery store. You look in your rearview m irror and see red lights flashing. Nervous and a little upset, you p ull over to the curb. The o ff­ icer turns on the bright overhead spotlights. You don't like it. It is embrassing to you and you 're won­ dering, what next? Do I get out of my car? W ill the officer approach my car? What information will he want? What inform ation must I provide? Can I be arrested? Can the officer search my car? What about confiscating my property? The grocery store on the cornor was just robbed by a person w earing a green jacket, blue gloves, grey pants and a cap You're coming home fro m a frie n d 's house and you 're wearing a green jacket, black gloves and light blue pants. Does the police otlicer have probable cause to stop you ’ Restrain you.’ Question you? Arrest you as a possible suspect? You feet an officer has violated your rights...during your encounter with a police officer any number o f things may have happened that you feel were a violation o f your rights as a citizen W ho do you call? W here do you go? What in fo r ­ mation w ill you need? How w ill your complaint be processed? How long w ill an investigation take? W hat alternative do you have? Your guilt or innocence is a mat­ ter of the courts. The street is not the place where the law should be debated or decided by citizens or officers. It is my hope that these scenarios w ill serve as a valuable resource to those who choose to read them, need them and use them. In response to much community concern, I hope that each week you will find answers to your questions in several key areas. 1 believe that our citizens and police w ill work together so that co n flic t w ill be minimized when they both under­ stand one another’ s expectations, rights and responsibilities. PORTLAND OBSERVER Tb« P ortla nd Observer USPS 969 68C $ pub^s^ed eve*> Thur»- by E m * p ut>hsh.ng Company inc 2201 North K ngswo^Tb Portland O eg on 97217 Post Office B om 3137 Portland Oregon 97206 Second cass postage p a d at p o n a ng Oregon Subscriptions $7 50 pe* ndnndua* w rite r or subm itter and does not neces sar »y reflect the op«non of the P ortla n d O b te n e r T S Z lW b ALFRED L. HENDERSON Editor/Publisher ... N a tio n a l A d v e r tis in g R e p re s e n ta tiv e A m a lg a m a te d P u b lis h e rs In c N e w Y o rk vtMÄLR t^ E ^ fp ^ P E P Assoc er-en • Fou n ded ’ tes Oreyc New, .pape' Publishers Ass<) c o n 1st Place Community Service ONPA 1973 1st Place Best Ad Results ONPA 1973 5th Place Best Editorial ONPA 1973 Honorable Mention Herrick Editorial Award NNA 1973 Zim babwe: The election countdown has begun. The British appointed governor. Lord Soames is still doing his best to bar Robert Mugabe trom contesting the elec­ tions. W hen he was appointed, his job, obstensibly was, to make sure that the elections were conducted treely and fairly, with a minimum of intimidation. He was supposed to be no more than an impartial observer. Since he arrived in Zimbabwe, he has made no pretense at im p a r­ tiality. Far from torm enting unity, he has created and encouraged rivalry among the Black candidates. He has tried to drive a wedge between the two wings o f the Patriotic Front, Mugabe’ s Z A N U and Joshua S ko m o ’ s Z A P U . W hile he has deployed Rhodesian troops against ZANU ’ ’ holdouts,” he has turned a blind eye to Bishop M uzorewa’ s private army which continues to harass and intim idate the people. Time and time again, Mugabe has threatened to walk out o f the agreement and go back to the bush to resume the war unless some of these injustices are redressed. Some o f Mugabe's top lieutenants have been barred from campaigning and as many as 2500 o f his supporters detained. It is admist this background that Zimbabweans w ill go to the polls Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week Whether Mugabe will be in the running is not yet clear Soames is so alraid that il Mugabe wins, then the Africans would really be in control. On the other hand, if Nkomo or Muzorewa wins, then the status quo will be maintained. East A fric a : The three East African Neighbors Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda used to be united in an economic e ntity called the East African Community. This was the b ra inchild o f Tanzania's Julius Nyerere, M ilton Obote and Jomo Kenyatta, then president of Uganda and Kenya respectively. A fter the overthrow o f M ilton Obote in 1971 and, as each country began to follow a different ideological path, relations among the three countries steadily deteriorated culminating in the breakup o f the EAC in 1975. With Idi Amin gone, the chill has begun to thaw. Recently, Nyerere met with Uganda’s Godfrey Binaisa and Kenya’ s Daniel Arap Moi. This was the first meeting o f the three countries leaders in ten years. So, understandly, hopes that the EAC is about to be revived were resuscitated. West Africa: Guinea, which for years isolated itself from the rest o f the w orld, recently joined Sierra Leone and L iberia in another economic union called the Mano River Union. Hopefully, this ven­ ture will prevail despite the very d if­ ferent ideologies luliowed by the three member countries. Namibia: Lt. Gen. Prem Chand, appointed last month to command the United Nations T ransitional Assistance G roup (U N T A G ), arrived in Windoek, Namibia, last week to confer with South African "authorities” on the future of the disputed territo ry. However, not much progress can be expected as everybody is watching to see how the "dram a” in Zimbabwe will end. In the meantime, the buildup o f South A frican troops w ith in the country seems to be accelerating. The figure is well over 65,000 already and still growing. Zambia: The recent raids into Zam bia by both Rhodesian and South African troops exposed the alarm ing vu ln e ra b ility o f that southern African nation. The out­ dated a n ti-aircraft batteries that Zambia bought from England were o f very little use in shoring up the c o u n try ’ s defences. Recently, however, Zambia purchased 16 MiG 21s from the Russians. Over 200 Zambians air force pilots and ground crews have been training for more than two months to fly the MiGs. These new planes are the equivelant of the Mirages used by South Africa. Tribute to a Blackman by Asmar A bdul Seifullah a.k.a. Joe West »40404______ In the past Black people have I write these lines because within been grossly negligent in acknowl­ our own community there are Black edging and supporting their Black leaders who need our support and leaders. Too often has such ac­ protection. There are many brothers knowledgment been after the death and sisters that I could call attention or exile o f a dedicated Black leader. to but I don’t have the space or ex­ Dr. Martin Luther King was a great pertise to m ention them all. man while he was alive but it seems However, I would like to mention as though we’ ve attributed further one brother who stands a little taller greatness after his death. The same than the rest. Brother Ron Hern­ is true about M alcolm , Garvey, don, the co-chairman o f the Black DuBois and others. Such an attitude is like finding a cure after the dis­ United Front, deserves such recog­ nition. He’ s been active and com­ ease has run its course—-the cure mitted to the struggle since the late may be great but it doesn’t help yes­ sixties. Ron gave the community its terday’ s victim. first Black bookstore and was the Then there are Black leaders on founder o f the Black Educational the community level that live rather Center. obscure lives nationally and die ob­ The B.E.C. is geared to address scurer deaths because as a people. the needs o f Black children in terms Black people are very slow in recog­ of education with a chocolate fla­ nizing their contributions to the lib­ vor. Ron Herndon should be com­ eration struggle. As it stands mended for the work he’s done with now — the only real leaders that the Black children o f our commun­ Black people have are dead. I ’ ve o f­ ity. For too long we have neglected ten heard brothers and sisters say the importance o f a healthy educa­ such things as, "H a d Martin lived tion for our children. We’ ve left the things would be d iffe re n t,’ ’ or future and immortality of the Black "M alcolm was just coming into his community in the hands o f the white ow n.” When in actuality had we educational system. I f this continues supported them fully, their deaths the best we can hope for is a bunch may have been avoided. Had the o f Black children singing God Bless white world been put on notice as to Amerika and feeling inferior for the the well being o f Malcolm and Mar­ rest o f their lives. tin and the possible consequences Many o f us are beyond redemp­ involved if something were to hap­ tion but damn, “ What about the pen to them, they might still be alive babies?” There is a commercial on today. What I’ m saying is that we TV about the United Negro College must protect our leaders with full Fund which says “ A M IN D IS A support and acknowledgment to the TERRIBLE T H IN G TO WASTE” ninth degree. but it seems as though too few Black What do you think would happen people identify with its importance. if Khomeini or Castro were assasi- I'm sure that Ron Herndon under­ nated by some unknown cracker. stands its importance and on behalf You don’ t see the leaders o f the o f the three hundred-plus Blackmen great world powers knocking each inside O.S.P. I'd like to say thanks other o ff because the consequences f o r caring, thanks f o r being so are too great. I f Jomo had been damn Black and beautiful. We murdered by the colonialist govern- really appreciate the work Ron is ment.-in Kenya, Mau Maus would trying to do in assuring that our still be taking heads. There would children receive a quality educa­ hade been war without compromise tion— brother, we're with you in Or quarter. spirit and soul. When the country recognizes that It’ s important that we remember Black people w on’ t tolerate any that Blackmen have been killed for more happen-chancc executions o f doing less than what Ron is trying to its leaders they’ ll stop killing them. achieve. It's not really that fa r­ W e must support our leadership to fetched for Ron to be the victim of the maximunv—national support is an unfo rtu n a te accident. When the oatv thing that will spare us the yo u 're ta lkin g about a qu a lity education for Black children, you're grief we’ ve experienced in the past Support is protection and a means talking about whitefolks spending to the realization o f freedom for all money. If a cracker will kill a nigger oppressed people. about a white woman, what do you think he’ ll do about a nigger mess­ ing with his bankroll? They’ ve al­ ready proven how vicious they can be and if you think about it Martin d id n 't get offed un til he started ta lkin g about Vietnam and the dollar bill. History as a way of repeating it­ self and historically we’ ve lost a lot o f our leaders because we did n ’ t fully support them. Have you evej thought what would happen i f a Blackman killed Carter or even a racist like Wallace? Man, there would be Black blood spilled from Oregon to New York; we’ d need passes to go to the store. What I ’m saying is that i t ’s the threat o f vio­ lence that prevents violence, like having the bomb to protect yo u r­ self. When people know yo u ’ ll defend yourself and your leaders they 'll leave both alone. A white racist policeman could shoot Ron Herndon down tom orrow for a tra ffic violation. The verdict would be ju s tifia b le homicide and most of us would be gullible enough to go for it. The movement would have a dead hero and Ron's children would be just as fatherless as M artin’ s children As a Blackman that's not able to assure anything to anybody, I can say with assurance that should the com ­ munity lose the like of Ron Hern­ don and people like him, the loss will be greater than the passing o f one man. Our development has been such that we can’ t afford to lose another soldier without resisting. D o n ’ t be misled by my w ord play—I ’ m not advocating violence for the sake o f violence. What I'm talking about is an attitude that has been lacking in Black people. An at­ titude that transcends the monkey business and deceitful games that society plays on us. an attitude that will allow us to defend our struggle for freedom and equality without the needless and wasteful death of Black leaders. There is no hope without support and your presence carries greater weight than your ab­ sence. Support Ron Herndon and the members o f the Black United F ro n t— i t ’s our children they 're fig h tin g f o r and i f they lose our children lose. Thank you for reading these lines and may A lla h bless those who believe in and support the rnnypun. ity beyond rhetoric. " Subscribe Today 2nd Place Best Editorial 3rd Place Community leadership ONPA 1975 $7.50 per year—Tri-county $8.00 per year —Other 3rd Place Community Leadership N A M E ___________________________ __ ________ ___ ADDRESS _____________________ ________ ________ C ITY ____________________ STATE____________ ZIP « ONPA 1978 Portland Observer Box 3137 Portland. Oregon 97206 “I I I I I I I I I