Page 4 Portland Observer, March 2, 1983
EDITORIAL/OPINION
Salem Watch
Compensate Japanese-American
The United States interned 120,000 Japanese
Americans, most o f them U.S. citizens, in deten­
tion camps during W orld W ar II. According to
the recent findings o f the Com m issioner on
Wartime Relocation and Internment o f Civilians
the action was based on "race prejudice, war
hysteria, and failure of political leadership.*'
N ot a single documented act o f espionage,
sabotage or spying was committed by a citizen
o f Japanese ancestry or by a resident Japanese
alien, the report said. There was no military rea­
son to lock up U .S. citizens or residents. Also,
young men who were taken directly from the
concentration camps fought valiantly in the U.S.
military in Europe.
The internment began shortly after Pearl H a r­
bor and continued until after the 1944 election
although U .S. victory over Japan was by then
assured and it was certain (hat no invasion o f the
West Coast by Japan was possible.
The fact that this action was rooted in long­
standing racism against Orientals that precluded
them from property ownership and other rights
o f citizenship is made even clearer by the fact
that no such action was taken against persons of
German or Italian heritage.
The question that now must be asked is what
reparations are to be made to people who have
lost property, health and years from their lives.
The equitable payment would be in money—
since in this country money is used to pay for in­
justices. But this will not happen. I f the Japan­
ese-Americans who were interned and their fam­
ilies were to be paid for their suffering, when
will the descendents o f the blacks who were en­
slaved and the Indians who were murdered and
made homeless be compensated?
Letters to the Editor
Will it happen again?
Victory inspires
To the editor:
To the editor:
The victory of Harold Washing­
ton in Chicago should have great
meaning io the blacks in District 18.
W ashington did not have four or
five black opponents Io divide his
vote. And he won.
I suggest that about four months
before the next primary election in
District 18 all the registered blacks
vote for their desired candidate for
Stale Representative. The winner,
man or woman, would be declared
the sole Democratic candidate. All
the others should withdraw and sup­
port the winner fo r an intensive
four-month campaign for the Dem­
ocratic nomination.
A strong campaign for Democrats
to register should be waged.
Howard D. Willits
Now that the Commission on
W artim e (W W I I ) Relocation and
Internment of Civilians (Japanese-
Americans) has confirm ed the
"grave injustice,** will we see justice
done? How will we prevent a future
wholesale lock-up o f Amricans
based on race, national origin (or
political, sexual, or religious orien­
tation)?
What were the underlying causes
o f this tragedy? The Commission
suggests "long-standing racial pre­
judice) and “ political motivations.”
I suggest we look deeper to the inter­
national economic depression of the
’30s. U.S. capitalists were in fierce
competition with Japanese capital­
ists for markets, labor and raw ma­
terials of Pacific Rim nations. U.S.
rulers needed a war to gain the up­
per hand. And they needed a scape­
goat w ithin rhe U .S ., just as the
Nazis needed the Jews, to drum up
war fever and to hide the warmong­
ering o f the profiteers.
Envious, covetous West Coast
growers and the Hank o f America
took (his opportunity to expropriate
successful J a p a n e s e -A m e ric a n
farmers and the rest of the Japanese
race with the cover of "m ilitary ne­
cessity.” However, Hawaiian Jap­
anese-America ns. primarily farm la­
borers, were not imprisoned because
agribusiness already controlled the
sugar and pineapple plantations.
Only premeditated, institutional
racism for economic plunder can ex­
plain this outrage. Monetary repara
lions and severe new curbs on
abuses o f presidential power and
police-state regimentation are neces­
sary first steps. But further mea­
sures are necessary— today Chrys­
ler, Hyster, et al, facing a '30s-type
decline in profits, have launched a
nationalistic, racist media blitz
against “ Japan Incorporated” and
" ille g a l aliens " O nly radical re­
striction of multinational profiteers
can prevent recurrence o f the WW
II tragedies.
Jamie Partridge
Portland celebrates Black Business Week
(Continued from page I cot. 3)
encouraged a partnership relation­
ship between corporate America
and the minority private sector. In
the early history o f the N B L , that
partnership was symbolized by the
support NBL received from John D.
Rockefeller and Julius Rosenwald.
Because we represent such a vast
network of business and trade asso­
ciations, N BL is perhaps the most
efficient mechanism for the delivery
of resources and the implementation
of programs emanating from feder­
al agencies and corporate board-
rooms in pursuit of equitable minor­
ity p articipation.. . . N B l.’s consis­
tent efforts are a testament to the
deep-seated faith the minority com­
munity has in the American free en­
terprise system.”
Locally, the Oregon chapter,
chartered in September 1980 as the
Portland Chapter, later changed its
name to include a greater area. M o­
del Cities programs in the late '60s
and early '70s had provided techni­
cal and financial assistance as well
as counselling and inform ation re­
ferrals. Once that program dis­
solved,” said Crews, "there was no
agency that could address the needs
of black and other minority business
concerns.
" I was reading Black Enterprise
Magazine and I saw an article on
NBL. 'This is what I need,' I raid to
Oregon
Newspaper
Publishers
Association
1
myself. 'We need this in Portland.' I
called to N BL headquarters in
W ashington, D .C ., and they re­
ferred me to their regional office in
Seattle. Their Michael Ross re­
sponded and came down to
Portland in 1980.
" I had contacted about 33 busi­
ness people here; they came to my
home to hear Ross and all o f them
present agreed to establish our chap­
ter of NBL. By September when we
flew to W ashington, we had 30
names to form the chapter. We are
still recruiting names to add to our
list."
Crews is owner-operator of the
C & C Sandblasting and Painting
Company located on Swan Island,
acquiring sub contracts for work on
ships. Other members of the Oregon
NBL chapter include Nate Hartley
Fuel, Floyd Booker o f Courtesy
Janitorial Service C o., O.B. H ill of
N .W . Tradewinds, an im port-ex-
port company, James Berry, owner
of N .E. Business Center (a consult­
ing firm) and Jim Mays of the Nate
Young Fabrication C o ., which
makes structured steel bridge sup­
ports or structural steel handrails,
and Robert Shaw, owner of Origin­
ators, a printing company.
M ayor Ivancie, according to
Crews, is completing a packaged
program to better meet the needs of
minority business to provide the ne­
cessary financial and technical as-
sistance to keep these businesses ex­
isting in the community. It is expect­
ed, also, to allow the businesses to
hire unemployed persons presently
housed in these areas.
Officers of the Oregon chapter in­
clude; Charles Crews, president;
O .B . H ill, vice-president; Nate
Hartley, treasurer; James Mays, sec­
retary; James Berry, executive secre­
tary; Robert Shaw and Floyd Book
er; members o f the executive com­
mittee.
El Salvador
(Contmued from page I col. 61
Americans w ill be the deciding
factor, he said. They can allow their
country to bring destruction to a
tiny nation that is no possible threat
to the U.S. threat to the U.S. or they
can, following the F M N L -F D R vic­
tory. participate in the rebuilding of
the nation through educational,
health and development programs.
In the meantime, the FM LN -FD R
is seeking medical supplies, money,
material for clothing, instruments
such as walkie-talkies and binocu­
lars, etc. Schools and clinics for the
people are being established in zones
held by the guerillas and supplies for
these are needed
It is not illegal for U.S. citizens to
send aid and there are ways to trans­
port items to F.I Salvador. I f inter­
ested write Box 6443, Portland, OR
97228
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N a tio n a l A d v ertis in g R ep resentative
A m a lg a m a te d Publishers Inc
York
Americans (24 percent o f these m i­
This is a "good news, bad news"
norities) now constitutes " fu ll em­
story.
p lo ym en t.” According to a more
The "g o o d news” is that O re ­
historical view o f economics, how­
gon's economic recovery is begin­
ever, such a social policy would
ning. Statistically, the “ good news"
seem to guarantee this projected re­
can be seen in the 2,000 jobs recent­
covery will be as short-lived as most
ly added to Oregon's shell-shocked
recent recoveries have been, and
economy, according to newly re­
that further in fla tio n w ill follow
leased state budget projections.
shortly on its heels.
Sym bolically, economic recovery
Economically as well as socially, a
can be seen in President Reagan's
6 percent "fu ll employment" policy
visit to a non-union lumber mill in
would have a devastating impact
Klamath Falls.
upon this country. In 1980, the U.S.
The "bad news" is that few will
Bureau of Economic Analysis sug­
recognize recovery when it finally
gested that every percentage point
arrives. Margaret Hallock, an econ­
increase in the unemployment rate
omist with the State o f Oregon,
reduced the G NP by $68 billion and
warned that the state economy will
cut federal tax receipts by $20.2 bil­
not attain pre-recession employment
lion. Along with reduced revenues,
levels until after 1987.
federal expenditures would rise. A 6
In fact, the only true good news is
percent " f u ll em p lo ym en t" rale
that Oregon will not be alone in this
could easily cost the U.S. Treasury
sluggish economic rebound. The
over $7 billion annually in food
Economic Report o f the President,
stamps for the jobless.
transmitted to the Congress earlier
Those pre occupied with a bal­
this month, predicts a nation-wide
anced U.S. budget may want to look
post-depression unemployment no
at genuine fu ll employment as a
lower than 6-7 percent. With due re­
budget-balancing tool. Increasing
gard to Oregon's seriously splin­
tax receipts and eliminating the need
tered wood products industry, that
for many jobless benefits by getting
national figure could well factor out
people back to work seems more hu­
to around 7-8 percent unem ploy­
mane than President Reagan's pro­
ment for Oregon.
posal, which tends to make human
N atio n -w id e, blacks and other
misery and deficit spending a recur­
minorities can look forward to the
rent aspect of American life.
renewed prosperity of an 11 percent
Thus, while the good news is that
unemployment rate for adults and
economic recovery is on the way,
34 percent for minority teenagers.
the bad news is that— for many of
These "h a p p y days" figures for
us— it will never arrive. Recovery
young people represent recovery
will never arrive because we, as a so­
since the current rate of unemploy­
ciety, have accepted the decision of
ment for minority youth exceeds 43
a pow erful few than an arbitray
percent.
level of joblessness can be accepted
Even more astonishing than these
as “ full employment." Such a pol­
projections of continued high unem­
icy is the result of a political choice,
ployment is the President's declara
a choice which enables management
lion that such levels constitute “ full
to control labor through the threat
e m p lo y m e n t." According to one
of lay-offs, and to demand wage re­
tenet of Reaganomics, the existence
ductions.
o f over 6 m illio n forceably idled
The m ajority o f Americans who
do have jobs will still be adversely
affected. They can expect lower
wages, less jo b security, and less
safe working conditions. They will
also bear the burden required to
subsidize the misery experienced by
the unemployed 6 percent. Those
who have jobs w ill enjoy higher
taxes, higher crime rates, and live in
a less compassionate society. To
date, few have challenged the politi­
cal choice to accept 6 percent as
"fu ll employment."
Workers in other countries, how
ever, are increasingly restless with
jobless rates which are below Rea
gan’s "fu ll employment" level. Jap­
an, in the midst of this international
recession, had an unemployment
rate of 2.4 percent for the last quar
ter of 1982. West Germany is facing
a severe political crisis as its unem­
ployment skyrockets to 6.2 percent,
while Italy (hardly anyone's model
of economic efficiency) was nudging
3 percent for the last quarter of
1982. I f we do not watch out, the
American economy will replace the
Italian army as the standard fare of
cocktail humor.
The point here is not (hat the
United States should seek to emu­
late Japan or West Germany, but
rather that political choice is as im­
portant in determining socially ac­
ceptable levels of unemployment as
is economic theory.
This spring as we sit in front of
our television sets watching the
world through the lens o f the
evening news, we should examine
our own choices and actions before
blaming our elected officials for this
economic misery. As long as we, as
Americans, accept unnecessarily
high levels of unemployment, there
will be those who guarantee that we
get it.
© N o rltiw m Lcgitlalivc Services, Inc. 1983
Aging, raging Reagan
bv Manning Marable
Erom the Grassroots
It is no political secret that 1 find
President Ronald Reagan incompe­
tent, inhumane, and insensitive to
the interests o f black, poor and
working people. His bizarre and
boisterous behavior on the nuclear
arms race, his vicious cutbacks in
human serveies, and his patently
absurd statements on a wide variety
o f policy issues indicates beyond
any reasonable doubt that he is unfit
to occupy even the lowest public of­
fice.
As Reagan's third year in the pre­
sidency begins, it is clear that the
"chickens are coming home to
ro o s t." As his conservative p ro ­
grams have taken effect, many sec­
tors o f the Am erican political
economy and society have also come
to realize the inherent failu re of
Reaganomics.
Two weeks ago, a public opinion
poll commissioned by the blew York
Times and CBS was released which
illustrates the drastic decline in sup­
port for the Reagan Administration.
When asked, " D o you think that
Ronald Reagan is a strong leader?"
78 percent said "Y e s ” in January,
1981; only 33 percent said " Y e s ”
last month. When asked " D o you
think that Reagan is in control of
what goes on in his adm inistra­
tio n ,” only 35 percent o f those
polled said "Y es." 41 percent stated
that they approved of the way Rea
gan is handling his job, but 47 per­
cent said they disapproved. Accord­
ing to the Times, "Reagan's new ap­
proval rating o f 41 percent is the
lowest since he took office. And it is
down 26 points from the approval
rating o f 67 percent that he had a f­
ter three months in office."
M ore devastating still was the
forthrig ht rejection o f American
workers, poor people and many
middle class elements o f the basic
tenets of Reaganomics. When asked
to suggest ways to reduce the size of
the federal government's $200
billion deficit, 63 percent demanded
that the "Government reduce pro­
posed spending on military and de­
fense programs.” Only 38 percent
accepted Reagan's proposal to in­
crease Federal taxes. And a meagre
29 percent urged the government to
"reduce proposed spending on pro­
grams for the poor." About six out
o f ten told pollsters that America
under Reagan was going “ o ff on the
wrong track."
Community building
by Calvin O.L. Henry
Building a community to be ac­
countable and responsive to its own
needs and aspirations is like de­
veloping an army. An army needs
soldiers. But, if the soldiers are hun­
gry and lack discipline, it is hard to
develop a sense of purpose and
achieve victories. And if members
of a community lack a sense o f its
own history and definitions, it is d if­
ficult for it to bring accountability
and responsiveness to itself by its
own members.
History is the food that keeps a
community from getting hungry and
provides the resources for building
As historian Lerone Bennett notes,
"history is the scaffold upon which
personal and group identities are
constructed. It is a living library
which provides a script of roles and
models to which growth can aspire.
By telling us who we are, history
(ells us what we can do By telling us
where we have been, history tells us
where we can go.”
Twenty-one black women in Eu­
gene are seeking to build a sense of
com m unity and share it with the
world. These women are members
of the Ebone Eyes. According to its
president Beverly H Sanford,
"Ebone Eyes was organized in 1979
and is a black women's support
group and public service organiza­
tion."
Ebone Eyes hosted its Fourth An-
black community in its activity in­
cluding black churches, businesses
and organizations.
Other highlights were the black
survival issue roundtable and speech
by Johnnie Bell, adm inistrator of
Oregon C iv il Rights D ivision, on
"Black Survival— Economic Inde­
pendence." And music by the
Bethel Temple Church C hoir and
the Ken Berry Show were uplifts in
these times o f economic setbacks
and downturns.
The women of the Ebone Eyes are
commended for their outstanding
faire and for sharing black history
with their com m unity, "because
people need a sense of history in or­
der to make history."
Also this event is an example of
being accountable and responsive as
the community is being built.
nual Cultural Fane on February 19.
1983 in honor of Black History
Month. The theme of (he fairc was
"Black Survival— Economic Inde­
pendence.” It was indeed a celebra­
tion; the art, music, food, fashion,
businesses, literature and displays
were refreshing and enlightening to
the soul.
The future o f the black com­
munity rests, to a large extent, in the
hands o f its youths. This Cultural
Faire provided a cultural and educa­
tional experience, concerning Afro-
American achievements, economic
development involvement, aspira­
tions, and avenues for advance­
ment, for children and adults of all
ages and ethnic backgrounds. The
uniqueness of it, perhaps, was its
appeal to the youths.
Also the Ebone Eyes was able to
involve all segments of the Eugene
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