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Peter Tosh:
Reggee rocks
Portland
U.S. Central
America role
protested
Sports
Highlights
See Happenings, Page 4
See Page 3
See Page 15
PO R TM N D OBSERVER
Volume XIII, Number 42
August 3, 1983
25C Per Copy
<) t o e Pubiuhint Co, Inc I90J
Citizens committee
demands full MHRC
■
4
The fraah naw look of Portland's firs hydrants
can In part ba cradltad to Brian Simms and Malra
Eacobar, participants in tha mayor's Youth Em­
ploy mont Program. Malra plana to uaa bar
summar monay for collaga. whila Brian hops* to
go to North Carolina to audition for 'Paopla In
Lova,” a goapai choir ha s a w on cabla TV.
(Photo: Richard J. Brown)
Black unemployment rate
remains unchanged
W A S H IN G T O N — The
unem­
ployment rate for black workers in
June was 20.6 percent and has
shown no improvement in the first
half o f the year, the U .S. Depart­
ment o f Labor’s Bureau o f Labor
Statistics reported.
The jobless rate for black men in
June was 19.2 percent, for adult
black women, 17.0 percent, and for
16- to 19-year-old youth, 50.6 per­
cent.
Among white workers, their un­
employment was 8.6 percent, down
from the pervious month's rate o f
8.9 percent. Adult white men had an
unemployment rate o f 7.8 percent,
adult women, 7.4 percent, and 16-
to 19-year youth, 20.0 percent.
The Labor Department reported
that on a national basis, employ­
ment rose sharply in June and the
unemployment rate continued to
edge down.
The overall unemployment rate,
which includes the resident Armed
Forces in the labor force base, was
9.8 percent, and the rate for civilian
workers was 10.0 percent. Each of
these measures has declined steadily
from last December's recession
highs o f 10.7 and 10.8 percent, re­
spectively.
Among the m ajor labor force
groups, there was a substantial over-
the-month decline in the jobless rate
for adult men; their rate dropped
0.6 perentage points to 9.0 percent,
its lowest level since August 1982.
Jobless rates for adult women (8.6
percent) and teenagers (23.6 per­
cent) were little changed over the
month. The unemployment rate for
white workers continued to decline,
while the rate for blacks was un­
changed at 20.6 percent and has
shown no improvement in the first
half o f the year. The rate for black
teenagers remained at about 50 per­
cent.
Discouraged w orkers’
A t 1.7 m illion, the number o f dis­
couraged workers— person who re­
port that they want to work but are
not looking for jobs becuase they
believe they cannot find 4ny— was
about unchanged from the first to
the second quarter o f 1983 but down
140,000 from the fourth-quarter
1982 high. Nearly all o f this decline
occurred among blacks. About
three out o f four discouraged w ork­
ers reported job-m arket factors as
their reasons for not looking for
jobs in the second quarter.
These figures are from the U .S.
Department o f Labor, O ffice o f In ­
form ation and Public Affairs.
The Comm ittee for the Restora­
tion o f the M etropolitan Relations
Commission (M H R C ), which has
grown into a coalition o f 30 diverse
city-wide organizations including
ethnic, religious, political, elderly,
and citizen groups, is undertaking
efforts to encourage the reversal of
the C ity Council budget action to
gut the M H R C budget through staff
and program reductions equaling
almost a 709k budget cut.
W hile the coalition group has
been aware o f exchanges taking
place between M H R C and Comm is­
sioner Strachan for the past several
weeks, and although the support
committee members have met with
organizations, M ultnom ah County
Commissioners,
and
Comm .
Margaret Strachan. "restraint has
been exercised,” states support
committee chair Fred M ilto n , "b e ­
cause the impression has been given
that a meaningful dialogue was to
occur leading to full restoration o f
M H R C ."
However, as a result o f citizen
discussion with Com m . Strachan
and reports o f actions taken, com­
munity concern continues to grow.
These concerns include, says Milton,
"C o m m . Strachan's repeated state­
ment that the M H R C budget issue is
'dead* despite her awareness o f the
multitude of supporting organiza­
tions and the several hundred citi­
zens who have signed petitions
requesting full restoration. Further
concern has arisen," says M ilto n ,
"because the Commissioner only
staled that she w ill not introduce an
M H R C C ity Council budget ordi­
nance, while publicly commenting
that M H R C should come back to
the C ity Council if it feels it cannot
function within its newly appropri­
ated budget.” In addition, say coali­
tion members. "C o m m . Strachan
has continued attacks and inuendos
on the performance o f M H R C .
Also, at a public M H R C meeting,
on a radio interview and with the
support committee she has without
foundation accused the Commission
o f addressing only "1960s issues
rather than 1980's issues concerning
Hispanics,
Native
Americans,
Southeast
Asians.
gays
and
w om en" which implies that the
H um an
Relations
Commission
focuses on black issues to the detri­
ment o f other ethnic and m inority
groups. This tactic to separate out
blacks and to create divisions rather
than unity between all citizens o f
our city and county is viewed as
especially reprehensible by this
broadly-based
citizen
coalition.
Because this devisive tactic is also
being used in other Portland institu­
tional arenas, the coalition and or­
ganizing committee are particularly
alarmed, they say.
Further concern was expressed at
a recent meeting that Com m .
Strachan had proposed discussions
between herself and staff with an
M H R C board committee, then
withdrew herself without explana­
tion and assigned her staff, includ­
ing a former M H R C subordinate
employee, to proceed with discus­
sion. This action was felt to be par­
ticularly distressing because it dem-
onstrated a total lack o f willingness
to communicate, in spite o f the
commissioner's statements that a
"com munication problem ” existed
between herself and the Comm is­
sion and despite the fact that she or
her staff attend M H R C meetings,
receive reports and minutes, and
meet regularly with M H R C staff.
Even after the subversion o f the
agreed upon process for discussions,
M H R C has sought limited discus
sions with Comm . Strachan's Exec­
utive Assistant. W hile the coalition
has applauded M H R C 's efforts, it
believes this process is wholly inade
quale to address the primary issues
o f communication between Com m .
Strachan and M H R C and her direct
commitment to full restoration o f
M H R C 's
budget.
staff,
and
programs.
Stated as further evidence o f her
lack o f willingness to have meaning
(Continued on Page 11, Colum n 6)
36 school districts
hold levy elections
Thirty-six Oregon school districts
w ill hold levy elections Tuesday,
Aug. 9, and IS w ill be on a mail
ballot, according to State School
Supt. Verne A . Duncan. The levies
are needed to balance 1983-84 bud­
gets.
A ll Clackamas and M ultnom ah
County districts and two o f the
three Washington County districts
voting Aug. 9 w ill be on a mail
ballot.
Duncan said another 35 districts
which need levy approval will wait
until Sept. 20 to hold an election.
Forty-four percent o f the state's ele­
mentary and secondary students are
enrolled in the 71 districts needing
levy approval, Duncan said.
Districts may submit A levies,
which qualify for property tax
relief; B levies, which do not qualify;
or combined levies, which include
both A and B.
C L A C K A M A S — North Clacka
mas $28,939,621 combined (third
try); Welches $125,881 combined
(third); Damascus-Union $851,503
combined
(fo urth );
M olalla
$1,446,319
A
(third);
Sandy
$1,980,914
combined
(third);
Oregon City $2.761.841 combined
(third); Butte Creek $212,649 A
(second); Rural Dell $61,649 B;
Estacada S3.5OI.2O3 A (second);
Sandy Union High $2,025,318 A
(second) and $604,421 B (second);
M olalla Union High $2,162,470
combined (third). A ll 11 districts are
on a m ail b allo t.
M ULTNOMAH
—
Parkrose
$183,500 per year serial levy (two-
year); David Douglas $3,108,421 A
(second). Both districts are on a
mail ballot.
W A S H IN G T O N — Forest Grove
$206,291 B; Gaston $724,686 A;
Hillsboro Union High $10,002,527
combined. Forest Grove and Hills
boro Union High are on a mail
b allo t.
Nationalist outlines 7 spiritual principles
G R A S S R O O T S N E W S . N . W. —
Among the most colorful figures
brought to Portland to address the
National Black United F ro nt’s
fourth
annual convention
was
M aulana Ron Karenga. Karenga is a
legend in his own time. He is a na­
tionalist and founder o f the U .S.
organization which is based in Los
Angeles. C alifornia. Karenga wrote
a black value system called the
Nguzo Saba which is based on the
customs and traditions o f A frik an
societies. H e calls it. " A weapon, a
shield and a pillow o f peace."
The Nguzo Saba consists o f seven
principles which embrace both spiri­
tual and scientific concepts:
U m o |s (U n ity) — to strive for
and maintain Unity.
K u jic h a g u lla
(Self-Determ ina­
tion) — to define ourselves and
speak for ourselves.
UJIma (Collective W ork and Re­
sponsibility) — to build and m ain­
tain our community and make and
solve the problems o f our sisters and
brothers.
N la (Purpose) — to make as our
collective vocation the building and
developing o f our community.
K u u m b a (Creativity) — to leave
our community more beautiful and
beneficial than when we inherited it.
Im a n l (Faith) — to believe with
all our hearts in our parents, teach­
ers, leaders and our people.
U g a m a a (Cooperative Econom­
ics) — T o build an independent eco­
nomic base.
These principles are incorporated
in the celebration called Kwanza —
The First Fru it*. It is an allernative
to the commercialization o f Christ­
mas and is held on December 26
through January 1. O n each day o f
Kwanza a principle o f the Nguzo
Saba is a p ait o f the ceremony.
In an interview, Karenga ex­
plained the need for a National
Black United Front. " W e need
national, international and local
representatives. It is not enough for
one organization to speak for itself.
The councils o f the world respect
unity and national expression. Not
refugee, ethnic group or minority
expression — but national expres­
sion."
H e says he believes N B U F could
be utilized as a black resource bank.
"T here are a lot o f people who have
talent and will never get the chance
to use (heir talents because local or­
ganization* can’t place them. So,
there is a lot that goes to waste. The
nation (black people) is rich but it*
energy and resources are not har­
nessed or classified. Therefore, it
cannot be d irected."
Politically, Karenga sees the
purpose o f N B U F a* establishing an
independent political party. " A
party by definition is a political
structure to control, seize or effec­
tively participate in state politics.
Electoral politics is a legitimate area
to engage in ."
H e also say* he believe* the most
important political dialogue to have
emerged in the 1980s is the nation­
wide discussion o f a black presiden­
tial candidate. " W e don’t have to
like Jesse. The presidential candi­
dacy that Jesse Jackson is talking
about o ffer* us a chance to political­
ly educate Black people on issues
they would never talk about other­
wise Rather than stand on the side
and criticize, you penetrate and di­
rect the discussion to make sure the
right issue* are discussed. You are
not suspended in the air nor do you
live under the sea. You live in down­
town America and you need to get
involved.
"T h e movement o f the 1960*
which was set back killed people's
spirits and made them wonder was it
all worth it. It made them wonder if
they could ever do anything like that
again. A t least, this talk has made
black people hopeful and we can
take that and turn it into some other
kind o f organization after the cam­
paign is o ver."
Master M aulana Ron Karenga
left Portland with this ancient Egyp­
tian formula o f strength and strug­
gle. " I rise like Ra, blazing across
the horizon against my enemies. I
stand up like G od, awesome and un­
avoidable. I am as mighty as moun­
tains. I walk with the strength o f my
own legs and speak with my own
mouth and mind. I organize my
people and assemble my allies. I
shall wipe the earth clean o f evil and
make the world beautiful again.
This is what I leave with you.”
Maulana Ron Karanga addraaaaa tha National Black Unltad Front
Convantlon In Portland laat waak.
(Photo: Richard J Brown!