Pag« 6 Portland Obaerver, April 13,1963
Economic recovery no impact on blacks
by Lanita Duke
"W e think new investments should
Grassrool N ew t, N . IF .— John
Jacob, the National President of (he
Urban League, graced the Pacific
Northwest with his presence at the
League's Western Regional Confer*
ence.
In a press conference on April 7,
Jacob, answered a question regarding
a black presidential candidate in
1984. "T he League has not taken a
position on it and we cannot be­
cause of our las exempt status. While
we have not taken a position on the
notion of a black presidential candi­
date, we understand some o f the
theories behind it. The idea does
have some advantages, and disad­
vantages as well. I happen to believe
if a black wants to run for president
he or she does not need permission
Io do so. Given a candidate who
could energize the black community
this may lead Io increased black voter
registration. This would increase
our political power on the state, as
well as the federal level. Just the no­
ton of a black presidential candidate
has elevated Civil Rights to the front
burner.” However. Jacob concedes
that a black would not win the presi­
dential nom ination and if one
placed himself in the running this
would only draw away votes from a
candidate sympathetic to the plight
of the dispossessed.
Asked if he felt the Democrats
had betrayed Harold Washington in
Chicago, Jacob replied that the
situation was both "fascinating and
tra g ic ." " H a ro ld Washington
played by the rules. When the politi­
cal machine lost they said that
Washington had to convince them
that he had the interest of all C h i­
cago at heart. In the past the one
who won the prim ary got the en­
dorsement o f the party. I l apears
that these are no longer the rules.
What we are seeing uncovered is the
racism we thought America was be­
yond.
"One of the issues raised is Wash­
ington's past record which says that
he is not M r. Clean. But we ran
Tom Bradley in California and there
is no one alive cleaner than Bradley.
Nevertheless, Bradley lost so we
cannot suggest the fact that Harold
Washington is not Mr. Clean caused
a change in the political attitude of
Urban League President John
Jacob at Portland press confer­
ence.
(Photo: Richard Brown)
Chicago. Their actions say to blacks
and other minorities that America is
not ready for fairness or openness in
a pluralist society. Therefore, the
struggle becomes more intense and
the level o f frustration becomes
higher."
We also questioned the influence
large corporations have over the U r­
ban League, in particular, those cor­
porations which are advancing poli­
cies that are hurting poor and
colored people. "T h e re are some
myths that have always existed re­
garding corporate positions on what
we say and do. Now , I ’ve been in
the League for 18 years and to my
knowledge they have never tried to
influence positions that we have tak­
en. They may not like them and they
tell us when they d on 't. But, they
have never not given because they
disagreed with us or we disagreed
with them. I think corporate Ameri­
ca recognizes the fact that we repre­
sent a disadvantaged constituency
and we must articiulate their needs
and aspirations. Even if some cor­
porations ceased to give because of
policy we must continue to tell the
truth and take our chances in that
process. I do not perceive it as being
between a rock and a hard place."
Jacob explained the League's pol­
icy of not endorsing divestment in
the racist Republic of South Africa.
not go into South Africa but those
that are there ought to be used to
im prove the plight o f the black
South A fric a n ." Regardless o f his
organization's stand on divestment,
Jacob believes that black rule will
come to South Africa. "There is no
way four m illion people can con­
tinue to dominate 27 million people.
The sheer weight o f the numbers
will win out. White South Africans
have a decision to make, whether
they all want to die in the process of
black self-rule or become a partici­
pant when it does in fact come."
Does Jacob believe the economic
position of blacks will increase with
the increase of a few economic in ­
dicators? " I think we ought to put
the recovery o f the economy in a
black perspective. Even though
there is a rise in the economy it is
not having an impact on the black
problem. A rise in tide does not lift
all boats. Blacks are in (hose indus­
tries which are devastated by the
change in the economy. There will
never be an impact on the black eco-
onomic problems unless there is a
conscious e ffo rt to address that
problem." Jacob calls for a domes­
tic Marshall Plan. " I n 1940 when
we decided to rebuild Europe we
dedicated three percent of our GNP
to rebuild Europe. We ought to be
equally com m itted to rebuilding
Am erica. We could put in place a
Universal
Em ploym ent
and
Training Program to deal with the
problems of our cities."
Jacob was also asked to address
the boycott of the Portland Bottling
Company (7-Up). " I think (hat it is
tragic that in 1983 we are talking
about getting black people em ­
ployed. The power of an economic
boycott has sent to our doors many
o f the companies who are being
boycotted to see how we can help
them. I do know that 7-Up is owned
by Phillip Morris and we have a very
good relationship with Phillip M o r­
ris. T heir national record is very
good in terms of minority employ­
ment. I am compelled to speak with
George Wiseman, the Chairman of
P h illip M o rris , about the 7-U p
problem in Portland. I know that
Wiseman would be concerned about
a company that carries the Phillip
M orris label being perceived as
being discriminatory in its employ­
ment practices."
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Juvenile Justice
funds UL program
The Multnomah County Juvenile
Justice Commission has decided to
fund seven community programs
this budget year.
The disproportionate numbers of
black young people in the juvenile
justice system influenced the
commission's decision to fund two
Northeast program.
Programs dealing with delinquent
children are: Open Meadow Learn­
ing Center, $45,177. The program
provides education, counseling and
special needs services to young
people at risk of commitment to a
state training school.
M ultnom ah County Juvenile
Court Options Program, $77,734.
This program provides services to
prevent commitment o f young
women to Hillcrest.
Yaun Child Care Center, $21,729,
provides resident care for ten ado­
lescents and follow-up services.
Morrison Center Intensive Family
Intervention Program, $116,500,
provides a structural program of
fam ily counselling for families of
delinquent youth.
Prevention programs are:
H arry’s Mother Runaway Youth
Progarm, $112,000, provides safe
shelter for homeless/runaway
youth.
Parents United of Oregon Youth
Outreach Program, $32,930, serves
children who are victims o f in tra ­
family sexual abuse.
Urban League o f Portland,
$210,914. This grant w ill expand
services o f (he Northeast Service
Center to increase the ab ility to
meed the needs of youth and fam i­
lies. Approximately 400 young peo­
ple will be served.
The Urban League program is a
response to the need for blacks to
determine the community's needs
and to determine how to meet those
needs.
One popular program that w ill
not be refunded is the Juvenile
C ou rt’ s Probation Support Week­
end which provided custody and
counselling for young people who
are on probation and who need help
in maintaining probation goals.
A large contingent from the black
community was on hand at the
Tuesday night hearing to support
the Urban League program.
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Funds buy medicine
by Charles Goodmaiher
Residents o f the Irvington and
Alameda neighborhoods gave $320
last Thursday in humanitarian aid
for the people of El Salvador. The
money, raised in only two-and-a-
half hours by just six volunteers,
will provide medical aid for Salva­
dorans in contested areas. The can­
vassing e ffo rt is a prelude to an
April 30 Oregon-wide door-to-door
fundraiser sponsored by the Central
American Support Committee.
One o f the canvass organizers,
Bruce Fitzgerald, states that "these
funds are very important because
the government has confiscated
most medical supplies in rural areas
to keep them away from guerrillas
and guerrilla sympathizers. This un­
fortunately has the effect of keeping
adequate medical care from most of
the population. Health care person­
nel in rural areas are constantly har
assed, and some assassinated, by
right-wing death squads."
Spice tan work shoes with
leather uppers and non-mark­
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Goodyear welt construction
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People to people medical aid for
El Salvador is channeled through
the Arch Bishop o f Guernavaca.
Mexico who purchases medical sup­
plies which are then sent to El Salva­
dor.
Volunteers are being recruited for
the massive statewide canvass April
30. Donations from several areas of
Oregon will be solicited by as many
as 100 volunteer canvassers. Train­
ing sessions will be provided by the
Central America Support Com m it­
tee prior to the canvass. The Com­
mittee can be reached at 235-9388 or
232-8187 for more details.
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