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
NMA
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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.
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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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