Page 2 P o rtla n d O bserver A p ril 3. 1980
EDITORIAL/OPINION
African update
by N. f-ungat Kumbuta
Time for a new Superintendent
The Black United Front and other com
munity organizations have called for the
resignation of Superintendent Robert Blan
chard based on his philosophy and actions on
the education of Black children. Black Stu
dents have been widely scattered throughout
the district to further desegregation, while
Black students attending still segregated
neighborhood schools have been denied
academic achievement.
After ten years of federal and state assist
ance and of special Early Childhood Education
Centers designed to draw white children,
these same ECECs still test lowest in the
district on achievement tests. Parents have
complained about many problems: principals,
teachers, lack of bus shelter, etc. The Superin
tendent's response to Black people and
groups has often been negative and arrogant.
Ten years ago, when Dr. Blanchard came to
Portland, the NAACP opposed the Blanchard
plan on the basis that while sending older
Black children out of their neighborhoods to
promote desegregation, it left the lower
grades about 100 percent Black. As a
desegregation formula, the plan was
inequitable and deficient.
Nearly ten years later the com m unity
Coaliton found that not only were
desegregation efforts haphazard and ineffec
tive - they were destructive to Black children
who were isolated in white schools.
In the words of one Black educator. Dr.
Blanchard's policy has ''destroyed a
For the first ten years Dr. Blanchard had
nearly unanimous approval of the School
Board Except for Wally Priestley, who was
elected in 1976, Blanchard had unanimous
support for nearly all of his proposals. Seldom
was any serious difference expressed in
public, the Board choosing to show a united
front.
The new board has not had this united ap
pearance. There are not only difference
among the members but also differences with
the Superintendent. His recommendations are
not quickly and silently passed; they evoke
lengthy discussion.
The Board members have been criticized by
the daily press for taking too long to make
serious decisions.
The Board has the d ifficu lt problem of
healing ten years of destruction in the Black
community. That task isn't easy. We are not
t had: After less than a year in of
satisfied with the Board's desegregation plan
fice, the “ government o f national
but we understand the difficulties they have
unity” in Ndjamena seems on the
faced in their endeavor.
We believe that the Board must hire a new
superintendent - one who w ill meet the
challenge of educating Black children with en
thusiasm and skill, and who will willingly in
volve the Black community in this task.
Until this happens there is not much expec
tation that any plan will be successful or that
the Black community will consider the Board's
intentions sincere.
Message to my brothers in OSP
By Nyewusi Askari
(aka kelly normanj
Brothers, it’s all too easy for us
out here to trip out, sing torch songs
and tune out to your situation at the
prison. It s all too easy to come up
w ith ill-lo g ic a l reasons why, we
can’t relate to the truths you tell us
each week in your column "Behind
The Walls,” which is printed in the
Portland Observer newspaper.
Each week you come to us; alive,
forceful, and in your own way, very
beautiful. It’ s a testimony o f what
imprisoned Black men can do to
help our process o f liberation,
despite their position in life. And
thus, you represent a very positive
force in the Black community, altho
you aren’t here with us.
It is fo r this reason and many
more, that you must continue to
speak your truths to us. Like you,
we are imprisoned by the guardians
o f a system, which for hundreds o f
years, have tried to destroy us. Yet,
like you, we continue to survive; for
we know that freedom is not an
illusion.
Nevertheless, achieving freedom
is not an easy process, and during
that struggle we tend to miss each
other, lose each other, become
overwhelmed by frustration, disap
pointment, defeat and a feeling of
non-progress. These are very real
realities; a segment o f the war
designed to kill the spirit o f those of
us who believe in total victory.
Thru media m anipulation, and
neglect, you are often made to feel
that nothing positive is happening in
the Black communities you were
snatched from . You are made to
believe that the order o f each day
here, is dope, Cadillacs, whores, the
k illin g o f each other, deception,
here, too much instant death, too
complacency, apathy, crime and the much grief, too many paths going
ever present "Superfly mentality.”
downhill.
Not so.
We are a nation o f people, like
As has been since the moment we any other nation...m ulti-colored,
first set foot upon the shores o f
m ulti-talented, capable, creative,
A m e rikkka , we are fig h tin g to
fighters,
doctors,
lawyers,
regain the freedom taken from us.
educators...we are a nation.
We have our glory moments: the
We have our superflys, uncle
freedom trains, the rebellions, the
toms, dope dealers, etc. like any
Garvey movement, the Civil Rights
other nation, yet, those negatives
movement, and a rich history o f
are not our totality. These negatives
constant struggle. We have our
have yet to be converted into new
moments o f glory and from the
men and women; and believe me
ruins and ashes, have emerged
they can be. Witness how the Black
great,
pow erful
Black
Panthers, CORE, SNCC, the Black
leaders...Marcus, Martin, Malcom,
Muslim s etc. of old, converted
Stokey, H. Rap and thousands
thousands o f pimps, whores, dope
more.
fiends, superflies and uncle toms,
But for us, glory is short lived as in to respectful Black men and
in any war. Leaders rise, leaders diie
women, dedicated to our survival.
and the days bring darkness and
We love you brothers, and ask
silence. Today, in 1980, there is that you not allow the guardians to
much darkness and silence hanging
make you think West, when you
like dark grey clouds over our bat should be th in kin g East. D on’ t
tlefields, leading many o f us to
allow them to make you hate the
believe Black people are f inished.
people you should love.
But witness the rise o f Black
Continue your work. Continue to
United Fronts across Am erikkka;
be warriors. We need your spirit out
witness the efforts o f m illions o f here, altho you are there. Ours is a
Black children to get an equal
battleground, yours is a battle
education; witness the efforts o f ground, and there is a meeting place
Black mothers and fathers to raise in between, where we all w ill one
their children, protect their families, day get together, break bread,
make a living working everyday, smile, rejoice and feel the love we
and at the same time, fight in the haven’t been able to adequately ex
war fo r Black lib e ra tio n by any press.
means necessary.
You see, love travels thousands o f
We cannot ask more of them at a miles without making a sound. So,
time when inflation is at 17<7o. We think o f that when you don’ t hear
cannot ask more o f them at a time
from us. Think of that when you
when even the future o f the guar wonder how we feel about you.
dians o f this crazy system, is un
We are merely extensions o f each
certain. There is much suffering other...
PORTLAND OBSERVER
1st Place
Community Service
ONPA 1973
The Portland Observer IUSPS 969 6801 is published every Thurs
day by Exie Publishing Company. Inc., 2201 North Killingsworth.
Portland, Oregon 97217, Post Office Box 3137, Portland, Oregon
97208 Second class postage paid at Portland, Oregon
1st Place
Best Ad Results
ONPA 1973
Subscriptions »7 50 per year in Tri County area: »8 00 per year
outside Tri County area P ostm aster Send address changes to
the Portland Observer, P .0 . Box 3137, Portland, Oregon 97208
5th Place
Best Editorial
ONPA 1973
The Portland Observer'» official position is expressed only in its
Editorial column Any other material throughout the paper is the
opinion of the individual writer or submitter and does not neces
sanly reflect the opinion of the Portland Observer.
Honorable Mention
Herrick Editorial Award
NNA 1973
283 2486
ALFRED L. HENDERSON
Editor/Publisher
•
-'•■ M M
N ational A dvertisin g R epresentative
A m a lg a m a te d Publishers. Inc
N e w York
MEMBER
JBB ■
Association
Egypt: The deposed shah of Iran,
forced out of Panama where he had
been since being forced out o f the
U.S. has now tem porarily found
refuge in Egypt, a move that could
precipitate the downfall o f one An
war Sadat. The shah has not been a
very popular figure in either the
African or Arab world and Sadat’s
granting o f refuge to him will fur
ther alienate Egypt. The “ peace”
treaty Sadat signed with Israel had
had Egypt isolated enough already
and the shah’s arrival in Cario will
just pour oil on Egypt’s troubled
waters. Already there have been
sporadic reports o f protests by
Egyptian students. The shah’ s
presence on African soil is also said
not to sit too well with the majority
o f the A frica n s who have been
tryin g to build better w orking
relations w ith the A rab w orld.
Question is: how long w ill Sadat
stand the pressure?
generation of Black children.”
■
PER fl« 1
IE
touodtd t t t t
■ ■ » fc
[O re q o n
N ew spaper
P u b lis h e rs
A s s o c ia tio n
2nd Place
Best Editorial
3rd Place
Community Leadership
ONPA 1975
«
■
3rd Place
Community Leadership
ONPA 1978
W
verge of collapse. Eleven separate
factions had met in Lagos and
agreed to form a coalition govern
ment and also end the c iv il war
Chad had been embroiled in since
the fall o f the French backed regime
Cable C om m unications is big
news in Portland and could be big
news in your community. It could
be if you make your interests known
to cable companies that are com
peting for the City franchise.
Besides TV and communications,
cable w ill provide new jobs and
careers for minorities and women
and major contracts for m inority
business enterprises. The time is
NOW to communicate your ideas,
opinions and concerns to all com
petitors so that their proposals will
be responsive to your needs.
You may be wondering, what
does Cable Communications mean
for me? My community? Isn’t Cable
Communications about entertain
ment and pay TV? First run movies,
sporting events and special shows
fo r children? A bout stations
beamed by satellite across the coun
try? Yes, it is that and a whole lot
more.
U nlike com m ercial television
broadcasting, cable makes it
possible to “ narrow cast” to target
special interest and minority groups.
For example, with a cable hook-up
you are going to be able to watch
neighborhood productions
classes, plays, dance, music —
through direct video programming
in your com m unity. In fact, at
"com m unity access” studios that
will be part o f the cable system, you
could be a p e rfc r mer, a com
municator, neighbor-to-netghbor.
With cable, you will also be able
to watch meetings o f local
organizations, such as the School
Board, the Black United Front, or
the Northeast Coalition o f Neigh
borhoods even when you can’t get
out of the house.
Better yet, and completely unlike
regular over-the-air broadcasting,
for an extra fee you’ ll be able to sign
up fo r “ tw o-w ay, in te ra ctive ”
cable. W ith a tw o-w ay hook-up
you’ ll have opportunities to par
ticipate in local meetings. By
pushing a button next to your TV
set you’ ll be able to express a
preference, be part o f the ac
tion...communicate.
There’s more. The experts tell us
that someday we’ll be able to shop,
bank, even use the library - all via
cable. In the near future it is likely
that you’ ll be able to connect home
security alarms to the cable system.
This kind o f hook-up w ill insure
rapid fire and police responses to
emergencies, even when you’ re not
at home.
A ll this (and more) is fo r the
future, but the near future. Right
now, at least eight cable companies
are in the final month of preparing
proposals to construct, operate and
develop a comprehensive cable
communications system in Portland.
The company that submits the most
competitive proposal w ill be awar
ded a City franchise to “ wire” the
of Felix M alloum . M ost o f the
fighting now involves the forces o f
interim President Goukuni Ouedei
and foreign minister Hissene Habre.
Foregin embassies are being
evacuated and tanks are said to be
rumbling through the capital, Nd
jamena.
South Africa: September 22 there
was a "mysterious” bright flash o ff
the coast o f South Africa that was
observed and reported by a U.S.
Vela observation satellite. Though it
was strongly suspected o f being a
nuclear explosion, no conclusive
repot was ever issued.
Now an exclusive CBS report
aired February 21st, and prepared
by Israeli jo u rn a lis t, Dan Raviv
alludes the explosion to a jo in t
Israeli-South A fric a n nuclear
collaboration dating back to the
1950’s. Further, a recent UN report
on South Africa's nuclear capability
details collaboration between not
just South Africa and Israel but also
the U.S., Britain, France, W. Ger
many and other western countries.
No wonder this report is being sup
pressed.
The U.S. The House o f Rep
resentatives has just set aside 520
million in aid for the new govern
ment of Zimbabwe. Meantime in
dependent reports indicate the count
whole east side.
The "most competitive” proposal
is going to have to be very good in
deed, and very responsive to com
munity interests and concerns.
Just to get in the game, for exam
ple, every competitor must guarante
at least 35 channels into each sub
scriber home, and four back out
again (the tw o-w ay, interactive
channels). O f the 35 channels in, at
least five must be dedicated to
community access for groups and
individuals.
I anticipate that the w inning
proposal w ill also guarantee
facilities, equipment, training and
marketing know-how for the use of
the community access channels.
That’s the home network part o f
the cable system. The system w ill
also include a non-entertainment in
stitu tio n a l netw ork that w ill tie
together
schools,
hospitals,
businesses, government and non
profit agencies. This wilt be one o f
the first such institutional networks
in the nation.
W hat about m in o rity jobs,
careers and contracts? The “ request
fo r proposals” issued by the City
contains certain Jordan amend
ments you should be aware&
M in o r ity
B u sin e ss
P a r
ticip a tio n . Every applicant for the
cable franchise must spell out a
program in its proposal fo r pur
chasing minority goods and services
in developing the cable system. The
proposals are due by A pril 30, 1980.
The target minority participation
rate is 10 percent. This could mean
up to $4,000,000 in contracts for
qualified m inority business enter
prises over the next several years.
P a y ro ll-S p a c ific Equal E m
p lo y m e n t and A ffirm a tiv e A c
tion
City code specifies that franchise
may need as much as $6 billion just
for reconstruction alone.
Zimbabwe: The new cabinet has
just been announced and it is
dom inated
by
some
heavy
academics: physicians, chemists,
lawyers, public adm inistrators,
economists, political scientists and
the like. It is without a doubt the
most academic cabinet anywhere in
the world, the U.S. included.
Banana fo r President? T h a t’ s
right. The man selected to be Zim
babwe’ s firs t Black president is
called, believe it or not, Canaan
Banana. He used to be Muzorewa’ s
deputy in the U A N C but broke
away after Muzorewa failed to show
any backbone and became just a
mouthpiece
fo r
Ian
Smith.
Muzorewa had him jailed and he
just came out o f prison. He joined
Z A N U and became famous fo r
adapting the “ Lord’s Prayer” to the
goals o f nationalism. “ Teach us to
demand our share o f the gold;
forgive us our docility...”
Independence Day has been set
for A p ril 17th. On that day, the
British flag will come down for the
last time to be replaced by Z im
babwe’ s Red, Black and Green.
“ A in ’t no stopping us now, we’ re
on the move!”
applicants must be EEO-certified.
M y amendment requires fu rth e r
that each applicant develop an
E E O /A A plan that is tied directly to
p a yro ll projections in each jo b
category, and that the plan be
honored over the fifteen year life o f
the franchise.
This means that from janitor to
a d m in istra to r,
installer
to
programmer, minorities and women
will have outstanding opportunities
for training and employment in one
o f the hottest industries o f the
1980’s.
Other Jordan amendments con
cern strengthening the already
strong privacy and security require
ments in the request for proposals,
and encouraging applicants to
propose “ special rates for special
people.(Some o f the people and
organizations who most need cable
services can least afford to pay for
them.)
Cable could be good news fo r
your community i f you get involved.
Remember that it also means new
jobs, careers and contracts fo r
minorities, specialized and respon
sive community programming, and
new forms o f citizen participation
for your community. However, for
competing cable companies to be
responsive to your concerns, they
must know o f your concerns before
their proposals are submitted at the
end o f A pril, 1980.
I encourage you to learn as much
as you can about this new com
m unications to o l, and to fo llo w
closely the C ity’s cable franchising
process. Cable means the potential
fo r enhanced com m unication in
your community.
For more in fo rm a tio n contact
Commissioner Jordan’ s o ffice at
248-4682 or the o ffic e o f Cable
Communications at 248-5585.
Revolution in El Salvador
(Continued from P 1 Col 6)
life for so many Central Americans.
Afterwards, the students taught —
and lived — the urban poor and rural
Indians,
directing
literacy
programs,
building
fa rm e r’ s
associations, discussing the dignity
o f the individual.
As the most outspoken prelate in
Central America, Romero came to
symbolize this merger o f the
church’ s moral leadership with the
interests o f the oppressed. He was
the visible embodiment o f a pre
d ic tio n made by the Cuban
g u e rrilla leader Ernesto (Che)
Guevara: “ When Christians begin
to give an integral revolutionary
witness, the L atin Am erican
revolution will be invincible.”
There is strong reason to believe
that the Archbishop’s assassin had
im m ediate connections w ith the
regime in El Salvador or with right
wing groups acting under its tacit
approval. They may even have been
professional killers from the anti-
Castro Cuban underground based in
Miami, imported especially for the
purpose o f ridding Central America
o f Oscar Romero.
In the end, however, his murder
may have the opposite effect.
Already people refer to Romero as a
m artyr. He w ill probably be the
patron saint o f the Central
Am erican R evolution, the man
whose life - and death - helped
galvanize an entire region in
rebellion against brutal oppression.
COPYRIGHT PNS 1980
• Bonpane spent several years in
rural Guatemala as a missionary
priest.
il
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