Page 4 Portland Observer, February 8,1984
My daughter and Jesse Jackson
EDITORIAL/OPINION
by D r. M a n n in g M a ra b ie
" F ro m The G ra s s ro o ts "
Caucus influence growing
The 2 1-member Congressional Black Caucus
has become a power to be reckoned w ith .
Collectively they chair seventeen committees and
subcommittees o f the House. Their leadership
and influence is being felt.
Among their 1983 achievements are:
— The budget resolution adopted by the
House on March 23rd contained 75 percent of
the C B C recommended funding levels for
programs aimed at putting people back to work,
reversing cuts in social program s, lowering
projected federal deficits and reducing proposed
increases in military spending.
— Because of the leadership of Rep. Parren
M itchell, regulations for Department o f Tran­
sportation grants include 10 percent minority set
asides.
— The CBC won a 15-year struggle when
n atio n al M a rtin L uther K ing, Jr. Day was
signed into law on November 2nd.
— A $3.5 billion bill which creates 500,000
jobs for long-term unemployed was passed by
the House due to Rep. Augustus H a w k in s ’
work.
— Rep. Julian Dixon authored a successful
amendment prohibiting U .S . support o f IM F
loans to South Africa.
— Rep. W illiam Gray authored successful
legislation to prohibit new investment in South
L ik e any d evo ted fa th e r . I am
p ro u d o f m y three c h ild re n . M y
— Rep. Walter Fauntroy and Rep. Mitchell
led the fight for a housing authorization bill of
$15.6 billion.
— The $96.2 billion fiscal 1984 la b o r/
H H S/education bill contained several amend­
ments, by Rep. Louis Stokes, including in­
creased funding for science and health educa­
tion; nullification of the Administration’s effort
to terminate the National Health Service Corps’
Scholarship program.
— Rep. Ron Dellums obtained a $254
m illio n increase in annual payments to
Washington D .C . and other advantages for the
city.
— Rep. Dellums led the fight against in ­
creases in military spending.
The C BC budget, prepared each year as an
alternative to the Adm inistration budget, has
become an im portant part o f Congressional
budget deliberations and has been strongly en­
dorsed by labor, civil rights and religious
organizations.
The 21 Blacks in Congress have become the
watchdogs of the legislative process, using their
unity and m oral influence to bring some
measure of humanity to the national govern­
ment. They are in Washington D .C . only
because their constituents register and vote for
oldest daughter, M a la ik a , is only six
years o ld But her ideas on B lack
p o litic s
and
Jesse
J ackso n 's
p re s id e n tia l c a m p a ig n a re m iles
a h e a d o f those B la c k " D o u b t i n g
T ho m ases" and M o n d a le -fo llo w e rs
w h o keep insisting th a t Blacks
aren't ready to contest fo r the W h ite
is so simple. M a la ik a summed it up:
" R e a g a n is so m ean to B lack
people. H e has to g o .”
T h e polls now have Jesse tied for
second place w ith S e n a to r John
G le n n fo r the D e m o c ra tic Presiden­
tia l n o m in a tio n . H e 's ra is in g the
level o f interest in the c o lle c tiv e e f ­
fo r t
one o f the m an y newspapers on my
desk, and was struck by a p h o to o f
g o v e rn m e n t and P resid ent Reagan
w ere fin a n c in g te rro ris ts to a tta c k
her and her village. M a la ik a looked
to
purge
R eagan ites
sign al th a t it was a ll rig h t to m ove
again st h im . T h is is how we lost
most o f our b rillian t leaders."
fro m
M a u la n a K arenga. the founder o f
p u b lic life . H is d ra m a tic t r ip to
S y ria w eeks ago illu s tra te d the
d ip lo m a tic touch w hich has elluded
the current ad m in istratio n . M illio n s
o f B la c k s, now in s p ire d by this
Black p o litic a l challenge w ith in the
House.
A few weeks a g o , she p ic k e d up
an arm e d N ic a ra g u a n w o m a n and
her tw o s m a ll c h ild re n . M a la ik a
asked w hy the w o m an was ca rry in g
a rifle , and I explained that the U .S .
they a re u n d e rc u ttin g the fre e d o m
strug g le by th e ir re fu s a l to back
Jesse " W h e n e v e r a s tron g B lack
le a d e r
m ade
a r e v o lu t io n a r y
s ta n d ." F a r ra k h a n states, " t h e
m o d erate Black leaders condem ned
that revo lution ary leader, giving the
th a t? " A g ain , the tru th fro m a child
K w a n za a . is ano ther leader w ho has
stayed out o f electoral w o rk — yet he
to o backs Jackson. Karenga argues
that an independent challenge inside
the D e m o c ra tic P a rty is abso lutely
essential. " T h e p o litic a l tim id ity o f
the D e m o c ra tic p a rty in the face o f
the R ig h tis t ten d en cy in the U .S .
D em o cratic P a rty , w ill become part
o f a broader electorate. But perhaps
the most im p o rta n t c o n trib u tio n o f
the Jackson race is the s y m b o lic
value o f a Black person ru n n in g fo r
makes it im perative that Blacks play
th e ir tra d itio n a l ro le o f ra is in g the
ra d ic a l and pro gressive b an n e r
a ro u n d w hich o th ers can ra lly ,
K a re n g a stales. O n ly a B la c k c a n ­
d id a te c o u ld " p ro d u c e a s p irit o f
m o b iliz a tio n and o rg a n iz a tio n a l
fo rm a tio n s w hich can be used a fte r
the campaign in other p ro jects.”
But the most basic reason fo r
s u p p o rtin g Jackson was expressed
national office.
at the p h o to a g a in , and then cut
th ro u g h m y com p le x e x p la n a tio n
w ith accuracy: " Y o u m ean, R onald
Reagan is try in g to k ill her
c h ild re n ? " I tho ug ht fo r a second,
and n od ded yes— t h a t ’ s e xactly
w h a t’ s at stake in N ic a ra g u a . E l
Jackson has b ro u g h t in to the
p o litic a l process B lack in te lle c tu a l,
relig iou s and p o litic a l leaders w ho
have
h e re to fo re
eschew ed
in ­
volvement in the electoral arena. H e
has also in s p ire d a new g e n e ra tio n
o f Black yo u th s to c h a lle n g e the
established b arrie rs to o u r people's
S a lv a d o r, A n g o la , and N a m ib ia .
T he Reagamtes are indeed, fun din g
ille g a l, racist wars to k ill Black and
by m y d a u g h te r
progress.
O ne prim e exam ple is provided by
M in is te r L o u is F a r r a k h a n , the
c h a rism a tic leader o f the N a tio n o f
Brow n children.
Several days passed, and I caught
my d au g h ter w a tc h in g te le v is io n .
Jesse Jackson was on the screen,
s tan din g b e fo re an a p p la u d in g
aud ience o f B lacks and w hites.
M u c h to m y a m a z e m e n t, M a la ik a
lo o k e d up w ith a b ro a d sm ile,
d ec la rin g " T h a t ’ s Jesse ja c k s o n !
H e 's the Black m an w h o 's ru n n in g
Jesse. A look o f sharp surprise came
to her face. " W h y w e’ ve got to stop
R o n a ld R eagan . D o n ’ t you k no w
I asked
Is la m .
S p e a kin g
b e fo re
the
W a s h in g to n . D . C . b ra n c h o f the
N A A C P at its a n n u a l F re e d o m
F u n d d in n e r, F a r ra k h a n u rg ed the
to poor p eo p le ."
O u r c h ild re n are o u r m ost v ita l
N A A C P to b ack Jesse Jackson.
F a rra k h a n tra v e le d to S y ria w ith
Jesse, stating that he " S a w th a t my
d evelo pm en t, fives on long a fte r we
have gone. W e have the o p p o rtu n ity
to te ll o u r c h ild re n th a t no d o o rs
w ill re m a in closed to B lack p eo p le
w hen we a c tiv e ly c h a lle n g e the
status quo. W e have the capacity for
reso urce. W h a t w e d o to in s p ire
th e m , to p ro m o te th e ir p o litic a l
b ro th er(Jackson )w as w a lk in g dow n
in the v a lle y o f d e a th , and I w o u ld
not let h im go d o w n th e re by h im ­
s e lf ." In the F e b ru a ry issue o f
for presiden t!"
S to p p in g dead in m y tra c k s , I
asked my d au g h ter w hy she lik e d
W’ hen
M a la ik a w h at she th o u g h t ab o u t a
B lack person ru n n in g fo r the
presidency, she replied: '■‘ I ' d like to
be President. I w ould help give food
Essence m agazine, F arra k h an warns
Black ap o lo g ists fo r M o n d a le that
n a tio n a l le a d e rs h ip . F o r M a la ik a ,
and fo r every Black child, can we do
less?
Democrat 1 viewpoint
by Pass Danielson
A
p reviou s
" D e m o c r a tic
18
V ie w p o in t" called a tte n tio n to one
o f m any misconceptions com m o nly
held a b o u t the D e m o c ra tic P a rty .
But to o ve rc o m e the g e n e ra lly low
c challenges Reagan
(co n tin ued fr o m page I , coium n 3 /
•
T h e C aucu s believes fu n d in g
m ust be p ro v id e d fo r fed e ra l
n u tr itio n p ro g ram s as a firs t step
tow ard eradicating hunger
•
M ic k e y L e la n d (D -T e x a s )h a s
a u th o rize d a resolution to establish
a
House
Select
C o m m itte e
on
H u ng er.
Black Infant Mortality
O n the average, Black babies die
at twice the rate o f w hite babies, and
in some urb an centers the m o rta lity
ra te fo r B la c k babies is fo u r tim es
higher.
•
The
CBC
has
requested
h ea rin g s by the E n erg y and C o m ­
m erce O v e rs ig h t & In v e s tig tio n s
S u b co m m ittee to determ ine reasons
fo r the R eagan A d m in is tra tio n ’ s
d ela y s in resp on din g to a fo rm a l
adjustm ents in the status o f H a itia n
refugees in the U .S .
remedies.
M in o rity Enterprise
H u m a n Rights and F oreign A ffa irs
T h e Reagan A d m in is tra tio n has
done m o re to th w a rt B lack and
o th e r m in o rity e n te rp ris e th a n any
a d m in is tra tio n in the last 20 years.
In 1983, the percent o f contracts to
M B E 's decreased. T he A d m in is tra ­
tio n seeks to e lim in a te the S B A D i­
rect Loan P rog ram : in December o f
1983, the S B A published new rules
•
T h e C B C w ill c o n tin u e to
speak
o ut
against
the
Ad­
m in is tra tio n 's policies o f m ilita ry
in te rv e n tio n and to urge the a d o p ­
tio n o f strong e con om ic and
p o litic a l sanctions against a p a r­
theid.
•
The C B C
supports R ep.
W illia m H . G r a y ’ s a m e n d m e n t to
the E x p o rt A d m in is tra tio n A ct
p ro h ib itin g new U .S . investm ent in
South A fric a , which overwhelmingly
passed the House last year.
•
O ther priorities include urgent
sup p le m e n ta l a p p ro p ria tio n s to
respond to the fam in e in A fric a and
to restructure its M B E program .
•
Rep. Parren M itc h e llfD -M d .)
w ill again take the lead in providing
aggressive oversight o f this Adm inis­
tratio n 's total failure in encouraging
Black economic progress and will seek
to redirect federal policies in this re­
gard.
o rg a n iz a tio n th a t can c a rry out
educational w o rk .
Setting aside the many reasons for
the c u rre n t state o f P a rty a ffa ir s ,
the p o te n tial cap a b ility o f the P a rty
o rg a n iz a tio n is d ep end ent on the
proved
to w h ite s liv in g o u ts id e o f in n e r-
N o r th e a s t say som e N E E D m e m ­
b e rs . J o h n s o n says a c o m m u n ity
g ro u p s h o u ld be c o n tra c te d to
p r o v id e e m p lo y e e s fo r p o s itio n s
created w ith public funds. This role
is now p a rtia lly fille d by the M u l t ­
n o m a h -W a s h in g to n P r iv a te I n ­
dustry C o un cil which draws workers
fro m throughout the m etro area
A s th e O b server goes to press,
P D C commissioners are reviewing a
p ro p o s a l fo r im p le m e n ta tio n o f a
$ 5 0 .(XX) M in o r it y Business D e v e l­
o p m e n t P r o g r a m — a p ro g ra m a p ­
Ik
j
re
tw o
years
ago.
P D C claims they were hampered by
R e a g a n 's U .S . D e p a r tm e n t o f
H o u s in g an d U r b a n D e v e lo p -
m en t(w h o o rig in a lly claim ed such a
p ro g ram is ille g a l). L in d a Johnson
and others are irate about the delay
and also w onder if the interest ear­
ned on th is a n d th e $ 1 5 0 ,0 0 0 u n ­
spent m o n ey fro m
the L an d
B a n k in g p ro g ra m w ill be m ade
available. " A f t e r all this tim e, said
J o h n s o n , " t h e y in s u lt o u r in ­
te llig e n c e in te llin g us they are
making a p ro p o sa l."
E v e n w ith a ll o f th e m ixed
fe e lin g s
about
P ul, sh.-r .
ifto n
A nm »
and
son.
O n M a y 1$, new p recin ct people
Party leadership are badly needed.
T o ru n fo r e le ctio n fo r the
w ill be elected, fo llo w in g State law ,
and in June and July these new
precinct com m ittee people w ill elect
position o f precinct c o m m ittee per
son in yo u r p re c in c t o r in an a d ­
jacen t p re c in c t, you m a y file fo r
new d istrict, county, and state party
leaders and also select delegates to
the N a tio n a l D e m o c ra tic C o n v e n ­
e le c tio n tw ith y o u r nam e app earin g
on the b a llo t ja t the C o u n ty B o ard
o f E lections O f fic e , S .E M o rris o n
at I It h , or contact the district leader
tion.
But how m any o f these new
precinct people w ill actu ally help to
b u ild the P a rty o rg a n iz a tio n and
p ro m o te its w o rk? H o w m an y w ill
H
M I m BIR
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o»egn» 9»ZUt Second » I*»» IH.vlA«-l»»ir Al Port'A»il O'ri*»»
A lfre d i Henderson. I dilor/Publisher
A l M ilhams. Advertising Manager
283 2486
N fttio n ftl A d v e rtis in g R a p re ^ e n ta tn
A m a lg a m a te d P u b lis h e r» inc
N e w Yo rk
■•J- •
ys.
• •
B e fo re filin g , one m ay in q u ire if
som eone else has a lre a d y file d fo r
election in that precinct and , if so, it
is a cou rtesy to y o u r fe llo w
D e m o c ra t to file in a d iffe re n t, a d ­
ja c e n t p re c in c t.(T h e C o u n ty E le c ­
tions O f fic e , the C o u n ty D e m o c ra ­
tic P a rty O ffic e , most cam p aig n o f ­
fices, and the d is tric t le a d e r have
m aps to help d e te rm in e a v a ila b le
precincts.)
A lth o u g h most take pride in being
elected to serve as precinct p eo ple,
very few fo lk s w o u ld m in d being
" d e fe a te d ” in th eir candidacy fo r a
p re c in c t c o m m itte e p o s itio n . In
D istrict 18, the P a rty org an izatio n is
designed to be a U N I T E D o rg an iza ­
tio n o f p recin ct p eo p le and D e m o ­
cratic volunteers. A n d non-precinct
people are eligible to be elected as o f ­
ficers o f the District, C ounty or State
organizations. F inally, after the reor­
ganization o f the Party in June-July,
any registered D e m o c ra t m ay apply
for appointm ent as a precinct person,
and appointed precinct persons have
the same voting privileges as elected
precinct people.
Letters to the Editor* *
Planning needed
The quality o f the plan will be deter­
m ined in p art by the q u a lity o f the
process we use That is why I want to
make sure that citizens and neighbor­
To the editor:
cles by C h uck G o o d m a c h e r on our
proposal for a Central City Plan. As
your articles pointed out, the need for
a strong vision for the central city area
is acute, especially as major new devel­
opm ents are proposed and as social
hood have a full opportunity to parti­
cipate in both the pre-planning phase,
which the C ity is engaged in now , and
the p la n n in g phases, o v e r the next
problems continue to grow.
is encouraged to call or w rite my o f­
" " —
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three years. Anyone wishing to become
more involved in the Central City Plan
fice, Room 211, C ity H a ll, P o rtland ,
97204
M argaret D Strachan
Commiaaionar of
Public Utilities
The Observer welcomes Letters to
the E d ito r. Letters should be short,
and must contain the w riter's nam e
and address (addresses are n ot p rin t­
ed/. The Observer reserves the rig ht
io ed it f o r length.
I
*l£ *fid a i7 -o w n e T te w s p a p e r.
Subscribe today! I
PORTLAND OBSERVER
Y e t, I would like a subscription
to the P o rtla n d O bserver.
News fo r and about
you.
g
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fo u r v fta (M S
and help process all form s.
T o be e lig ib le , you m ust have
been a registered D e m o c ra t fo r at
least 180 days b e fo re filin g . T h e
filin g d ea d lin e is 5 :0 0 p m ., M a rc h
6. H o w e v e r, i f y o u miss the filin g
T h a n k you fo r the thorough a r t i­
Bo« 1117 Portland 0»«eon 97208
L
PER
w ho w ill be glad to answer questions
c a rry out th e ir m a jo r d uties as
v o tin g m em bers o f the C o u n ty
D em o cratic C e n tra l C o m m itte e and
U n io n Avenue.
N E E D is f ir m ly s ta n d in g on its
own tw o feet and most members say
P D C 's N ortheast c o o rd inator has a
h ig h e r level o f g e n u in e c o m m it­
ment than have others w ho've filled
the jo b in the past. Then too, several
c o m m u n ity based g ro u p s a re
agg re s s iv e ly p r o m o tin g the a re a :
next w e e k , the O b s e r v e r w ill
examine some o f these.
or in an adjacent precinct.
role o f the precinct c o m m itte e p e r­
the
problem s the Black c om m u nity has
had in developing a cohesive voice.
M a n y a re o p tim is tic . T h e re are
p o s itiv e signs o f g ro w th a ll along
Th« Pnriland Observer « va » e»iAbi»»»e<l in 1970
Sub»c»pl»on« » 1 5 ® !>•' » •»' « »b* 7» Count» •»•« Po»l
miara» Send Add»»»» chano«» io ih« Porilem t Observer P O
ASSOC *Sf>on
PDC
Portland Observer
M 'O r r t ,.»
4 9
n early
Party?
U n fo r tu n a te ly , m a n y p recinct
people elected
in
p re s id e n tia l
p rim aries are o n ly interested in the
p re s id e n tia l c a m p a ig n o r in the
Dem ocrat.
W e live in tim es th a t re q u ire a
re v ita liz e d D e m o c ra tic P a rty to
p ro m o te a long overdue progressive
agenda. A c tiv e p recinct people and
Reactions to City plan for N.E.
(continued fro m page I. coiumn 3 /
d e a d lin e you m ay s till c o n d u c t a
w rite -in c am p aig n in you r precinct
distant g litte r o f the N a tio n a l C o n ­
v e n tio n . A n d fo r the fo llo w in g tw o
years they passively o ccupy a
precinct p o s itio n th a t c o u ld o th e r­
wise be
fille d
by
an
activ e
level o f in fo rm a tio n and u nderstan­
d in g ab o u t the P a rty we n e e d lC a t-
ch-22)stronger. more effective Party
p etitio n on Black In fa n t M o rta lity .
T h is p e titio n o u tlin e s specific
as lo c a l activists in the g rassro ots,
n e ig h b o r-to -n e ig h b o r w o rk o f the
I have enclosed my check or
money order for »15. for a
one-year subscription.
PLEASE P R IN T
Ma») io Portland Observée
N a m e ---------------
Bo» 3137
Portland Oregon 97208
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C ity _____________________ State
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