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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1983)
Page 4 Portland Oto—r v r . February 16, 1963 Individual responsibility EDITORIAL/OPINION by Calvin O.L. Henry Black History Week 1983 This week is Black History Week, a week set aside to honor the contributions o r black people in the building o f the nation— from the leaders and martyrs like Frederick Douglass, W .E .B . D ubois and M a rtin L u th e r K in g, J r., to the slaves, farmers and workers. Black History Week is also a time to consider the progress made from the previous year and to make plans for the coming years. The current depression purposely brought on by the Reagan A dm inistration's monetary p ol icies has brought unemployment, hunger, home lessness for millions o f people—a disproportion ate number o f them black. In spite o f the already devastating effects o f racism and “ last hired, firs t fir e d " on black workers, the Reagan Adm inistration is using its power to attack and, if possible, eliminate the affirm ative action programs that have provided opportunities for some black people. "Agenda I983," published by the ultra right- wing think tank, recommended that the Reagan A dm inistration make the destruction o f a ff ir mative action its number one priority—that "the Reagan Adm inistration shift its top p rio rity on legal policy from crime control to civil rights, to attacking the existing a ffirm a tive action agree m ents." The Heritage Foundation is not just a group o f kooks; it is highly respected in conser vative circles and its recommendations are taken seriously by the A dm inistration. In fact, these sections o f the report were reportedly written by Reagan Adm inistration officials who could not be named because o f their positions in govern ment. The Justice Department has already attempt ed intervention to overturn a ffirm a tive action rulings as well as school desegregation orders and this type o f activity will surely increase. The Adm inistration is not content to practice racism at home but has moved closer to the apartheid South African regime, is attempting to politically and economically isolate small black nations like Grenada and Surinam, and is pre venting the independence o f Namibia. Black H istory Week 1983 does not project a bright future, but the future can only be deter mined by the peopole. Over one hundred years ago Frederick Douglass said, "P ow er concedes nothing w ithout a struggle— it never has and it never w ill.” Ghana faces economic dilemma The current problems faced by Ghana arc an example o f the financial crisis imposed on Third W orld nations by the economic policies o f the U.S. and Western Europe. Nigeria, hard hit by falling prices o f o il and other exports, has ejected hundreds o f th o u sands o f Ghanians who had gone to Nigeria to work. These people, arriving in such large num bers and with no resources, are seriously taxing Ghana’ s ability to feed them. Following the overthrow o f Kwami Nkruma in 1965 Ghana generally followed the neo-colon- ialist model o f exporting raw materials and agri c u ltu ra l products and im p o rtin g a large per centage o f its food and most o f its essential pro ducts. While prices paid for cocoa and other ex ports have dropped drastically, the prices o f im ported goods have increased. The result is a defi cit o f trade and a growing external debt. Since Flight Lt. Jerry Rawlings took over the governm ent a year ago he has attem pted to make the country more self-sufficient, increas ing the production o f food and cutting imports by h a lf. He has attem pted to im plem ent a planned economy, has imposed price controls and has held the exchange rate o f the Ghanian cedis against the U.S. dollar constant. But when Ghana pays its foreign debt and oil bills it w ill have only $60 m illion— ten percent o f what is needed— fo r food, medicine, fertilize r and other essential im ports. Bad weather has damaged both food crops and export crops. The dilemma facing Ghana now is the need for more money both to feed the returnees and to prop up the economy. Loans from Western banks at high interest rates would be only a tem porary help and a long-term detriment. A loan from the International Monetary Fund (IM F ) is available o n ly i f Ghana agrees to devalue its money, which would immediately raise im port costs. Although there is no way out, Ghana is forced to make a decision. “ We all know that the IM F pill is bitter to swallow in terms o f economic, so cial and political consequences," Rawlins said recently. " B u t the more we hesitate the more bitter the pill becomes.” Letters to the Editor------------- Police fail to protect public In 1975, the C a l mux S y m p o tiu m was h eld a t th e C o r v a llis N e n d e lt In n to bring b la c k * together and be gin to m ake a w ritte n assessment o f the statu* o f blacks in O re g o n . O u t o f this s y m p o s iu m cam e the q u e s tio n , " H o w d o we get black elected o r a p p o in te d o f f i c i a l * to b ec o m e m o re a c c o u n ta b le , resp on sive and p ro du ctive to the black c o m m u n ity in O reg on ? ” A n d th is q u e s tio n s till rages as O re g o n e c o n o m y c o n tin u e s to worsen and the u nem p loym ent c o n ditions o f blacks are not any better. P lu s th e 6 2 n d O re g o n L e g is la tiv e A ssem bly is in reg ular session w ith taxes, econom ic d ev e lo p m en t, e d u catio n, hum an resources and budget cuts am ong the key issues o f this ses sion. T h e 1982 O re g o n B lack P o litic a l C o n v e n tio n th ru s t the b la c k c o m m u n ity fo r w a r d in a n s w e rin g this question when it defined the type o f le a d e rs h ip , th a t is need ed in the black c o m m u n ity , in its leadership plank as follow s: " T h e O re g o n B la c k P o litic a l C o n v e n t io n re c o g n iz e s th a t indigenous leadership is essential to (he d evelo p m en t and enhancem ent o f the black com m u nity. Leadership that is a c c o u n ta b le , responsive and p ro d u c tiv e m ust be d e v e lo p e d , e n c o u ra g e d , a n d s u p p o rte d th r o u g h o u t the c o m m u n ity . B la c k le a d e r ship should not be a fra id to iden tify w ith the black c o m m u n ity . T h is in digenous leadership must be w illin g to com m unicate, cooperate, and co o rd in ate w ith others in d efinin g and presenting the needs and aspirations o f the b la c k c o m m u n ity . T h e O r e gon Black P o litic a l C o n ven tio n calls upo n a ll o rg a n iz a tio n s and in d iv i d u a ls a d d re s s in g th e c o n c e rn s o f blacks to w o rk fo r the developm ent and re c o g n itio n o f this in d ig e n o u s leadership throughout O re g o n .” I t is im p e r a t iv e th a t th e b la c k c o m m u n ity d e fin e s its ty p e o f leadersh ip. I f som eone o utside the c o m m u n ity d e fin e s the le a d e rs h ip and this type o f leadership functions w ith in th a t d e f i n i t i o n , th e n th e black c om m u nity w o n 't have leader ship w o rk in in its o w n best interest. N o r w ill this leadersh ip teei th a t it has to be re s p o n s iv e , a c c o u n ta b le and productive to it. Since 1971, m an y e ffo rts o utside the P o rtland area have been m ade to bring m ore responsiveness, account a b ility and p ro d u ctiv ity to and w ith in the black c om m u nity in O regon. T h e C o r v a llis B ra n c h N A A C P was organized in 1971. T h is branch was follow ed by the o rg an izatio n o f the S alem B ran ch N A A C P in 1974 and the Eugene B ran ch N A A C P in 1976. T h ese b ra n c h e s w ere e s ta b lished to d ea l w ith ra c is m in th e ir areas and to help develop a sense o f com m u nity. T h e C o r v a llis B ra n c h N A A C P a n d th e O re g o n S ta te E m p lo y e e s To the editor: It is outrageous that the Portland C it y C o u n c il a n d M a y o r Iv a n c ie h ave fa ile d to stop the P o lic e D e p artm e n t's contem ptuous and d a n gerous behavior tow ards those they are pledged to p ro te c t. T h e p olice have caused a stro k e o f an e ld e rly black w om an by breaking dow n her d o o r d u rin g a ra id . T h e y c a llo u sly neglected urgent calls for im m ediate h e lp fo r a d e s p e ra te , k id n a p p e d black teenager, T rin a H u n te r. T he p o lic e , in s te a d , c la s s ifie d her as a " r u n a w a y ” and a " p ro s titu te ” and d e la y e d in re s p o n d in g . T h is d e la y led to T rin a H u n te r's death. Both these events indicate that the "p o s s u m in c id e n t" m e n ta lity and an a p p a llin g ly c a s u a l a tt it u d e to w ard s crim es against w om en and p ro s titu te s is a liv e and w e ll in the P o rtland Police D epartm ent. N a tio n a lly , the police treat those gro up s re q u ir in g the m ost p ro te c tio n as n a tu ra l p re y . In M ia m i and O v e r t o w n , p o lic e w a n to n ly k ill young black men. In New Y o rk C ity the police lead vicious, bloody raids on a g a y /d ra g queen b a r. In P o r t land police b eh a v io r causes harass m ent, in ju ry and death to wom en o f c o lo r. It is in to le ra b le that w om en, people o f c o lo r, the elderly and the p oo r, whose hard-earned tax dollars support the police, shoud repeatedly be their victim s. It is the responsibil ity o f th e C it y C o u n c il, M a y o r Iv a n c ie and C h ie f S tills to sec (hat the p o lic e im m e d ia te ly cease th e ir Shared Housing is a project o f the C en ter fo r U rb a n E d u c a tio n ( C U E ) th a t has been in o p e r a tio n since u np rovoked attacks and callous ne glect o f P o rtla n d 's w o m e n , people o f colo r, the elderly and the poor. M a y . 1982. T h e purpose o f Shared Housing is to help elderly and other low and m oderate incom e residents A d rienn e W eller I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Receive your Observer by mail — Subscribe todayl Only $10°° per year Mail to: Portland Observer Box 3137 Portland. Oregon 97208 N a m e _____________________________________ Address _______ ____________________________ City____________________State____________Zip I___________________________________________________ •• MWI • Portland Observer ,o«»' '(■ » i. The P o rtla n d O b \t r v t r (U S P S 959 680) it pu blished every Thurtdey by Cwte Pubhrhing Company. Inc . 2201 North Killings worth. Portland. Oregon 97217. Post Office Bos 3137 Portland. Oregon 97208 S- .ond class postage pe*d at Portland Oregon The Portland ( tb irrv rr was established in 1970 by A Lee Hen derson founder and President MEMBER Subscriptions H O 00 per year m the Tri County area P ost m a s te r Send address changes to the P ortland ()h \a r v tr, P O Bow 3137 Portland Oregon 97208 A! McGilberrv. Editor/Publisher Association - Fouetfstf IM S 283 2486 „ N atio n a l A d v ertis in g R _ ep resentative A m e lg e m e te d Publishers. Inc AI Williams, Advertising Manager M M N ow York the black m ovem ent in the 1980s. It held its 1981 E c o n o m ic S u m m it to enco u ra g e b la c k p eo p le in O re g o n to start, develop and invest in busi ness ventures an d e c o n o m ic d e v e l Association (O S E A ) w orked fo r the passage o f H B 2 729 w h ic h was en acted b y the 1975 O re g o n L e g is la tive A ssem b ly. T h is b ill gave statu to ry fo rc e to a ff ir m a tiv e a c tio n in O re g o n and created the p o s itio n o f D ire c to r o f A f fir m a t iv e A c tio n d i re c tly u n d e r th e O o v e r n o r o f O reg o n , lt was and still is the hope th a t this p ositio n w o u ld address the e m p lo y m en t p ro b lem s o f blacks in O regon. In 1977, the N A A C P branches on O re g o n a n d th e U r b a n L e a g u e o f P o rtla n d recognized that knowledge o f th e past a n d c u r r e n t le g a l, opm ent. A g a in . A tiy e h is askin g the 1983 L e g is la tu re , as he d id in 1 9 8 1 , to fu n d h i* c o m m is s io n o n B la c k A ffa irs ( H B S0S8), and to establish the com m ission by legislative e n a c t ment ( H B 2355). O n F e b ru a ry 3 , 1983, a sub c o m m itte e o f th e H o u s e H u m a n R e sources C o m m itte e held a h e a rin g on H B 2 3 5 5 . A t this h e a rin g , o n ly fo u r blacks w ere present. T h re e fe m ales and o n e m a le . T w o fem ales t e s t ifie d . W h e re w e re y o u ? W h y were there so few blacks present? Perhap s, the lim in g o f this h e a r ing was wrong? O r legislative notice was inadequate? But whose respon s ib ility is it to check on le g is la tio n a ffe c tin g O re g o n 's b la c k c o m m u nity? T h is re s p o n s ib ility belongs to o rg a n iz a tio n s an d m em bers o f the black co m m u n ity. T h e Black C o m m issio n is needed in O re g o n , a n d a ll o r g a n iz a tio n s and individuals in the black c o m m u nity should be w orking fo r it* fu n d ing and establishm ent by legislative action. A t th e F o u r t h C a l l - T o - A c t i o n L ea d e rs h ip C o n fe re n c e , w h ic h was held on J a n u a ry 2 2 , 1983, S e n a to r B ill M c C o y challeng ed m em bers o f th e b la c k c o m m u n ity to c o m e to Salem , and let him and other legisla tors know w hat the concerns and is sues o f the c o m m u n ity a re . S ta te R e p resen tative J im H il l , D -S a le m , also expressed th a t he is w illin g to w o rk fo r issues o f the black c o m m u nity. H e noted that lobbyists are key forces in the legislative process, and the interest o f the black c o m m u n ity c o u ld be best s erved i f it h ad a lo b b y is t. W o n ’ t you p ro v id e these legislators w ith your inputs and con e c o n o m ic , e d u c a tio n a l, social and p o litic a l status o f blacks in O regon w ill be necessary b e fo re an y h ea d w ay w ill be m ad e in a n s w e rin g the q u e s tio n * o f re s p o n s iv e n e s s , a c cou ntability and p ro du ctivity. These groups felt that a com mission on the status o f blacks in O regon was need ed a n d h ad le g is la tio n (S B 8 ) 0 ) d ra fte d . But this legislation d id not pass the legislature. A ls o in 1 9 7 7 , the firs t C a ll- T o - A c tio n L ea d e rs h ip C o n fe re n c e was held at W illa m e tte U n iversity and it led to the establishm ent o f the O re gon A s s e m b ly F o r B la c k A f f a i r s ( O A B A ) on A p ril 9 , 1977. O A B A is a n o n -p ro fit, statew ide co rp o ra tio n c o m m itte d to im p ro v in g the status o f blacks in O re g o n . It is n o n p a rti san, b u t p o litic a l. O A B A was not established to replace the N A A C P , U r b a n L e a g u e , B lack C h u rch e s o r any other groups; but it is w illin g to w ork w ith any and all organizations w o r k in g to im p ro v e th e s ta tu s o f blacks in O regon. O A B A serves as a p olitical arm o f the black com m u nity and it encour ages blacks to run fo r public offices. A ls o it e n c o u ra g e s a ll p u b lic o f f i cials to becom e m o re a c c o u n ta b le , re s p o n s iv e a n d p r o d u c tiv e to the black co m m u n ity. SB ) 7 9 and H B 2 7 4 9 w ere in tr o duced at the 1979 R e g u la r L eg is la tiv e Session a t th e re q u e s t o f the cerns? T h e state o f the legislative budget is k e e p in g s t a f f fr o m sen d in g o ut O regon Assembly fo r Black A ffa irs . T h ese b ills w o u ld have c reated the notices o f hearing on bills to in d iv i duals w h o w a n t to a tte n d and give te s tim o n y . T h is m akes the le g is la tive process som ew hat inaccessible to tne citizens as it nas been in the p as t. Because o ( th is , th e re is the need fo r black elected and a p p o in t com m ission on the status o f blacks in O reg on . W h en these bills failed to pass the Legislature, O A B A asked G o v . Vic A tiy e h , in July 1979, to es tablish the com m ission by executive o rd er. A fte r m o re than a year fro m O A B A request a n d som e in te rn a l o pp ositio n, G o v . A tiye h established ed o ffic ia ls to assist the black c o m m u n ity in getting hearing notices on bills affectin g it. T h e fu tu r e o f the b la c k c o m m u n ity in O reg on rests in the hands o f its m e m b e rs . It is n o t e n o u g h to h o ld o n ly th e p u b lic o f f ic ia ls a c th e G o v e r n o r 's C o m m is s io n on Black A ffa ir s w ith Executive O rd e r »80-18. A tiy e h e s ta b lis h e d his c o m m is sion on B lack A f f a ir s w ith o u t any fu n d s . H e asked the 1981 L e g is la countable and responsive. But m e m bers o f the b la c k c o m m u n ity m ust h o ld th e m s e lv e s re s p o n s iv e , a c tu re fo r fu n d in g fo r th is c o m m is sion, but got o n ly one d o lla r w ith a c o u n ta b le a n d p r o d u c tiv e . T h e y must tie w illing to com m unicate, co lim ita tio n on raising m oney fo r the com mission fro m gifts and grants. O A B A re c o g n iz e d in 1981 th a t operate, and c o o rd in a te w ith others in d efinin g and presenting the needs a n d a s p ira tio n s o f th e b la c k c o m m u n ity. e c o n o m ic d e v e lo p m e n t, as w e ll as politics, must be the m a jo r focus o f From The Boardroom by County Commissioner Gladys McCoy housing counseling and 430 com plet ed a h o m e s h a rin g a p p lic a tio n . O f the 242 hom eow ner applications, 95 U n til o u r econom y recovers fro m th e c u rre n t d e p re s s io n , w e a re fo rc e d to p ay m o re fo r less. Basic percent fall w ith in the low to m o d er a te in c o m e ran ges; 50 p ercent are over 65 years old; 40 percent w ant to s p lit expenses w ith a h o m e s h a re r; and 52 percent are interested in re ceiving services, i.e ., cooking, clean ing, personal care. O f the 190 tenant a p p lic a tio n s , 53 (2 8 p e rc e n t) have no in c o m e , a n o th e r 47 (25 p ercent) are receiving p u b lic assistance, u n em ploym ent or support fro m fam ily o r fr ie n d s ; 103 (5 4 p e rc e n t) a re younger than 34 years o ld ; and 108 (57 percent) are interested in p ro v id ing services in exchange fo r reduced rent. needs become m ore and m ore d if f i cult to meet because o f spiraling un e m p lo y m e n t, excessive t a x a t io n , A s o f D e c e m b e r 31, 1982, 62 o f the a p p lic a n ts to S h a re d H o u s in g h ad n e g o tia te d a h o m e s h a rin g a n d e v e r-in c re a s in g u t ilit y b ills . C o nsequ ently, the p o p u la tio n most im p a c te d by h ard tim es are the e l d e rly a n d o th e r lo w a n d m o d e ra te a g reem ent. These m atches have in volved hom eo w ners and tenants o f d iffe re n t age, race, sex and c irc u m o f the P o rtla n d m e tro p o lita n area locate, evalu ate, and select possible h ou sin g a n d liv in g s itu a tio n s th a t m eet t h e ir e c o n o m ic a n d s o c ia l needs a n d w a n ts . F o r those in t e r ested in hom esharing, Shared H o u s ing acts as a mechanism to seek out and match com patible individuals T h e p ro g ra m has re ceived 1 100 in q u ir ie s . 9 0 0 o f tho se re c e iv e d in c o m e residents. U lt im a te ly , s u r vival means caring enough to share the dim inishing resources. As a h um an services a d v o c a te , 1 am deeply concerned about the w el fare o f all people; especially those in m y district. I know there are elderly and other low and m oderate income re s id e n ts in m y d is tr ic t w h o fee l hopelessly lost, lonely, and defeated d u rin g these lim es. Shared H o using is a concept to consider to help easi the b urdens o f loneliness a n d des pair. S à tls L l.* sta n c e s. O n e m a tc h in v o lv e d an o ld er m an and a 1 9 -y e a r-o ld In d o c h in e s e s tu d e n t. T h e m a n fo u n d h im s e lf no lo n g e r a b le to d o the y a rd w o rk and necessary re p a irs to m a in ta in his hom e o f 25 years. His fa m ily w anted h im to sell the hom e a n d m o v e to a r e tir e m e n t c e n te r. S h are H o u s in g p ut h im in c o n tac t w ith this stu d en t w h o needed lo w 7 0 -y e a r -o ld w o m a n . O n e w o m a was lo o k in g fo r som e s e curity an c o m p a n io n s h ip . T h e o th e r w o m a wished to live near her chu rch ani also wanted the com panionship tha h om esharing o ffe re d her. H e r o nl other o ption was a retirem ent home B o th these w o m e n are v e ry a c tiv b ut w a n te d som e s p ecial c o m p a n ionship. These tw o m atches illu s tra te hov Shared H o u s in g has helped peopli n ot o n ly w ith th e ir h o u sin g need b u t a ls o som e im p o r t a n t socia needs. As you r C o u n ty C o m m is s io n e r, e n c o u ra g e D i s t r i c t ) I I re s id e n t: w ho are interested in this p ro g ra n to id e n tify your needs and phone oi visit one o f the p a rtic ip a tin g in fo r m ation centers. A packet con tain inf a description o f the p ro gram , an ap p lic a tio n fo r m , a n d an o u tlin e ol issues to be considered before decid ing to h o m e s h a re is p re s e n te d ot m a ile d to the interested p a rty . The C e n t r a l O f f i c e is lo c a te d in the C o m m u n ity Services B u ild in g , 718 W . B u rn s id e , R o o m 5 0 4 , p ho ne 2 2 2 -5 5 5 9 . In - d is t r ic t lo c a tio n s i n clude the U rb a n League Senior C e n te r , 4 1 2 8 N . E . U n io n , p h o n e 2 8 8 - 8 3 3 8; P e n in s u la P ro je c t A b le , 760 ya rd w o rk. N . J e rs e y , p h o n e 2 8 6 -8 2 2 8 , a n d P ro je c t L in k a g e . 2 7 2 8 N . E . 3 4 th , phone 249-8215. D o y o u fee l th is p ro g ra m is fo r you? I f you d o , then reach o u t by A n o t h e r successfu l m a tc h in volved a 6 5 -y e a r-o ld w o m a n and a con tacting one o f the above o ffices to let them k n o w you care an d are w illing to share! cost housing and was w illin g to do the h olne re p a ir* in a d d itio n to the