Portland observer., February 22, 1984, Page 2, Image 2

Page 2 Section I Portland Observer, February 22, 1984
Blacks bid for power in 1980's
by M ik e A lexander
I l i t the p res id e n tial p rim a ry
season. Jesse Jackson’s candidacy is
the focus o f a resurging movement
for Black political power President
Reagan p ro claim s " A m e r ic a is
back"
and
W a lte r
M o n d a le
promises to bring it back further. As
the election approaches, 16 of Black
families in Am erica struggle to sur­
vive below the official poverty line.
Black u n e m p lo ym en t rem ains at
depression levels, Black elderly live
in fear o f fu rth e r budget cuts to
lessen the fed eral budget d e fic it.
W hat happens beyond 1984? How
can Blacks "organize for power" in
theSO's?
The answers to these questions
w ill be the focus o f a m a jo r c o n ­
ference, e n title d " O rg a n iz in g for
Black Power in the 80’s” at Atlanta
U n iv e rs ity M a rc h 2-4 w hich the
N a tio n a l Black O rg an ize rs C o n ­
ference (N B O C ) says is o f historic
im p o rta n c e . N B O C co-convener
N elson Johnson o f G ree n sb o ro ,
N .C . explains, "Unless we think the
conditions o f Black people are going
to get b e tte r, ra th e r than worse
regardless o f whose elected , i t ’ s
clear th at we must fo rg e greater
u n ity betw een the thousands o f
o rg an ize rs , ac tiv ists, progressive
p o litic ia n s , clerg y, and students
arou n d the c o u n try who are
struggling to achieve Black political
pow er."
T h u s , he adds, N B O C ’ s o b je c ­
tives in hosting the conference are to
"b rin g together as many organizers
and activists as possible, across a
m y ria d
of
id e o lo g ic a l
and
o rg a n iz a tio n a l lin es, to fo rg e a
unified view on the road ahead for
the Black lib e ra tio n m ovem ent;
begin the process o f b u ild in g a
stru c tu re to s o lid ify the u n ity ;
d evelop a co m m on p ro g ram that
w ill enhance our local work and tie
it together and, lastly, put fo rth a
clear view on the situ ation facing
Black people and o ur struggle for
pow er."
According to D r. M ary Hoover of
C a lifo r n ia , a n o th e r N B O C co ­
co n vener, the ce n tral purpose o f
N B O C , since it was fo un ded at a
conference at Fisk U n iv e rs ity in
D ecem b er, 1982, is to fo rg e a
u n ifie d core o f dedicated Black
organizers and activists to " f i l l the
void in leadership in the Black
liberation m ovem ent." Since then,
she said, the $0 veteran and newer
ac tiv ists, representing clerg y,
a c a d e m ic ia n s , p o l i t ic ia n s ,
grassroots organizers, and students
w ho met to soberly assess the
situation facing Black America after
tw o years o f Reaganomics and in ­
creased racism and racist violence
has "established groups in over 40
cities, worked to build the March on
Washington, and began supporting
Jesse Jackson for President before
the idea o f a Black candidate was a
viable discussion."
N B O C credits Jackson fo r " t a p ­
ping and arobsing the tremendous
sentim ent am ong Black people to
fig h t fo r p o litic a l p o w e r ," b u t,
Johnson said, "th ere is no group of
organizers who are themselves u n ­
ited enough to consciously organize
and direct the m ovem ent tow ards
s e lf-d e te rm in a tio n .
That
task
rem ains to be com pleted and it is
crucial if the movement is to reach
its potential."
N B O C hopes the o pp o rtun ity to
speak to perhaps 1 0 0 0 -1500 such
organizers w ill lu re Jesse Jackson
h im s e lf to give the m ain presen­
tatio n at the conference S atu rd ay
night M inister Louis Farrakhan of
the N ation o f Islam is already com ­
m itte d to speak on F rid a y . F r a n ­
cisco Cam pbell, a representative o f
the g overn m en t o f N ic a ra q u a ,
where Johnson said a " U . S . in ­
vasion is im m in e n t," is scheduled
for Saturday, as are representatives
from the African National Congress
and the P ale s tin ia n peoples’
movemeni.
T h e plenarys, w orksho ps, and
panel discussions w ill focus on
" h o w to achieve and u tilize local
p o w e r.” V ete ra n Black activist
Owen Brooks o f G reenville, M iss.,
the th ird N B O C co-convener, said
" W e want to discuss things from the
standpoint o f how do you take over
locally now. as a prelude to merging
into a m ovem ent fo r power on the
n a tio n a l le v e l." T h e lists o f
panelists, workshop leaders, etc. in­
cludes Oakland City Council member
Wilson Riles Jr., Juanita Wade who
coordinated the Mel King campaign
in Boston, M r. Aludin Mohammed
from North Carolina. Phyllis Jones,
E xecu tive D ire c to r o f C o m m o n
C a p ito l in W ash ing to n D .C ., A t ­
torney Johnnie Walls o f Greenville,
M iss., Den Haskins fro m the G ib ­
son organization and Jackson cam­
paign in New Jersey and Rev. Leon
W hite o f N .C .
A lso
on
the
agenda
are
w orkshops to discuss specific
questions such as the role of students,
w om en, re lig io n , ed u ca tio n and
the m edia in the Black lib e ra tio n
strug g le.
Black
tra d e
union
organizing and Black independent
politics, and a special workshop to
discuss renewed efforts to bring the
U .S. government before the United
Nations for its "genocidal” policies
to w ard s Blacks. Several c u ltu ra l
performances by noted artists O jida
Pen, Jean S in d ab , the H a ra m b ee
Singers, and others are also p la n ­
ned. The conference registration fee
is $10, $5 fo r students and unem ­
ployed.
In urging activists o f all stripes to
attend, Owen Brooks reiterated the
p oin t th at Jesse Ja ck so n ’ s can-
didacy is inspiring people who had
little hope to fig h t fo r p o litic a l
power, but, he adds, "th e potential
fo r power can be forged in to real
power only if we unite and utilize all
the rich lessons o f o u r previous
struggles. W e must close ranks
across old lines o f d is u n ity and
organize for power. It is in this spirit
that we call on Black o rg an ize rs ,
grassroots leaders, student leaders,
religious leaders, and professionals
to join this historic "B lack P o w er"
conference in Atlanta.
What’s your stand
on new jobs
and industry
for Portland?
W
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«nx>m r >w) »4 •
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o.w xh
4» 4 m r m f v <4 Itof f * * * L * « d
Jackson campaign
kicks off voter drive
A statew ide d o o r-to -d o o r voter
registration drive is being organized
by the Jesse Jackson for President
cam paign on S a tu rd a y , F eb ru ary
25. Volunteers w ill meet at St. A n ­
drews C o m m u n ity School at 4919
N.F.. N in th at 9 :0 0 a.m . and noon
for train ing before going out can­
vassing.
T h e re are 3 6 8 ,0 0 0 unregistered
e lig ib le voters in O reg o n and
168,000 in M u ltn o m a h C o u n ty .
Jesse Jackson said, " B y and large,
people are unregistered because they
are unm otivated." One of the major
goals o f Jackson’ s cam paign is to
involve these unmotivated people in
the political process.
pir ih
Support
(ÎT) March of Dimes
"Fair Pay" petition = government pay cuts
by Helen M . Erlandson
P e titio n e rs w ill soon be asking
you to sign a petition to put the Fair
Pay Amendment on the ballot. This
am endm ent is a p o te n tia lly lethal
weapon that can be detrim ental to
all employed Oregonians as well as
the unem ployed, retired and small
businesses.
T h e F air Pay A m e n d m e n t, i f
adopted, w ill become a permanent
part of the Constitution of the State
of Oregon. The objective of the Fair
Pay Am endm ent is to save money
for all Oregon taxpayers. This w ill
be accom plished by reducing the
"elem en ts o f p a y ” o f all govern­
ment employees to equal the pay o f
those doin g s im ila r jobs in the
private sector. The sponsors o f this
am endm ent d efin e "e le m e n ts o f
p a y " as wages, frin g e b en efits,
vacations, educational benefits, and
literally anything you receive as part
o f your em ploym ent. The "p riva te
s e c to r" is in d u s try , business,
hospitals, restaurants and others who
have non governm ent em ployees.
Governm ent employees, according
to the sponsors o f (he am endm ent
are all c ity , co u n ty and state em ­
ployees. It is necessary to know the
d efinition s to understand the Fair
Pay A m endm ent. This amendment
has n o th in g to do w ith Federal
Government employees. . .yet.
T h e F a ir Pay A m en dm en t w ill
rem ove fro m the cities, counties,
schools and state governm ent the
rig ht to set salaries and o ther
elements o f pay for the people they
employ. It w ill reduce the ability of
these governm ent units to o ffe r or
p ro vide incentives to attrac t w ell-
qualified people. This right w ill in ­
directly be given to the leaders in the
p riva te sector. T h e p riva te sector
w ill set the standard average o f pay
fo r govern m en t em ployees. T h a t
being the case, wages o f n o n ­
government employees can also be
decreased or increased to set and
d eterm ine the average "wage o f all
clerks, secretaries, carpenters, nurses,
cashiers or w hatever you do in
your employment.
A n exam ple w ill e x p la in the
mechanics of the Fair Pay A m en d ­
m ent. A tax paid school ja n ito r
may not receive an element o f pay
greater than the average pay o f all
ja n ito rs in the p riva te sector. A c ­
cording to the sponsors, if a tax paid
ja n ito r is receiving m ore than the
average, his pay w ill autom atically
be reduced. Sounds fair, but is it? I f
the tax paid ja n ito r is found to be
earning less than his counterpart in
the private sector, his wages will not
be automatically increased.
This jan ito r and other underpaid
goernm ent employees w ould have
the right o f appeals. Can you afford
to pay your school a d m in is tra to r
over $1 00 ,0 00 ? T h is is not an
unusual salary for his counterpart in
private em ploym ent. Conceivably,
in a class ac tio n s u it, the courts
w ould ru le in fa v o r o f all gover-
ment em ployees in as much as
Paragraph 2 o f the Fair Pay Amen-
ment reads: " W i l l require fairness
in all elem ents o f co m p en sation
betw een govern m en t u n it and
private sector employees who have
s im ila r
jo b
c la s s ific a tio n s ."
H o w e v e r, the sponsors o f this
amendment deny it would open the
door fo r large numbers o f govern­
ment em ployees to receive e n o r­
mous salary increases.
The sponsors claim it will result in
saving huge am ounts o f tax money
and w ill cost very little to a d ­
minister. The amendment calls for a
commission o f five people to serve
five years at $1.00 a year. G overn ­
ment employees are specifically ex­
cluded fro m serving on this c o m ­
mission. This commission will hire a
s ta ff. T h e s ta ff w ill gather data
from the private sector to determine
wages fo r governm ent employees.
Someone will analyze all the govern­
ment positions and compare them to
similar positions in (he private sec­
to r. T a x paid nurses w ill be co m ­
pared to private sector nurses; clerks
to clerks; teacher to teacher; doctors
to d o ctors; a d m in is tra to rs to a d ­
m in is tra to rs and so on dow n the
line. It is not clear who w ill do this
monum ental task at little cost. The
cost o f liv in g , the needs and
numerous other variables that exist
ill d iffe re n t parts o f O regon must
Portlander helps educate lowans
by L an ila Duke
G ras sro o t News N . W'. — W h ile
Jic mass media constantly reports
the results o f the Iow a caucus, it is
ignoring the resolution adopted by
the 67 precinct caucus on February
20th.
" W e call on the next a d ­
ministration o f the United States to
end a ll econ o m ic, m ilita ry and
nuclear support fo r South A fric a
u n til South A fric a holds elections
on a one-person-one vole basis. And
im p lem ents
U n ite d
N atio n s
reso lution s on an in te rn a tio n a lly
supervised election in N am ib ia."
This progressive stand from the
farm belt did not occur because the
cows came home. Rather, it was the
result o f a ten-day whistle stop tour
through Iowa by a group advocating
freed om fo r S o uth ern A fric a 's
fre e d o m — a
g ro up
inclu d in g
Portlander, Avel M ayfield.
Mayfield, co-director o f American
Friends
Service
C o m m itte e 's
Southern A fric a Program in P o rt­
la n d , jo in e d South A fric a n poet
Dennis B rutu s, N a o m i T u tu ,
d au gh ter o f A n g lica n Bishop
Desmond Tutu, and 14 others from
state and an ti-ap arth eid programs
to raise the awareness level o f
lowans during the bone chilling cold
o f January.
Mayfield stated, "W e went to the
4
A V E L M A Y F IE L D
churches, grade schools and univer­
sities with a list o f questions to ask
the presidential candidates.”
She said lowans were unaware of
the situ ation in South A fric a and
their hum anity flow ed as they ab­
sorbed the vital statistics which says
th at the B lack m a jo rity can not
vote, they must carry passes at all
times and that the government in ­
stitutes a policy that resettles three
m illio n Blacks to poor villages
where the in fa n t m o rta lity rate is
greater than 50 percent.
M a y fie ld also said low ans were
not aw are o f U .S . ties in South
Africa which impose a cold war per­
spective (R ussia vs. U .S .) on the
conflict, by increased sales o f high
technology nuclear equipment and
rejection o f the international effort
to censure South A fr ic a fo r con­
tinued
illeg al
o ccu p atio n
of
Namibia.
The more direct issue of the U .S .’s
c o rp o ra te expan sion and m a in ­
tenance in S o uth A fr ic a and the
Reagan A d m in istratio n support of
the racist re g im e , was also a d ­
dressed.
However, anyone listening to the
three m ajor news networks, outside
of Iow a, could not tell this type o f
advocacy had o ccu rred in Io w a .
Those who watched the debate in its
e n tire ty heard one o f the few
questions, that received applause,
dealt w ith divestment o f funds and
aid to South A frica.
M a y fie ld said she believed the
reason why the m a jo r news net­
w orks censured the visit or never
aired the resolution was (heir direct
or in d ire c t investm en t in South
Africa.
" B u t the resolution proved to us
that o u r w ork was va lu a b le . It
proved that Iowa heard us."
also be considered in arriving at fair
pay fo r com p arab le em p lo ym en t.
Thus f a r , the am endm ent has no
provisions to verify the accuracy o f
the data collected from the private
sector.
I f the F air Pay A m en d m en t is
adopted the most immediate impact
will be upon government employees.
The hidden and perhaps the most
lethal impact will be upon those em­
ployed in the p riv a te sector, the
small business and the retired. I f the
average pay is set by the private sec­
to r, w hat c o n tro ls are there to
prevent large businesses fro m set­
ting new salary averages by in ­
creasing wages u n til the sm all
business is squeezed out and all o f
us, including (he retired and unem­
ployed, pay higher prices to com ­
pensate for these increased wages?
W hat controls are there to prevent
large businesses from reversing such
a tactic and start reducing the wages
o f those in private em ploym ent in
order to further reduce the wages of
government employees?
The F a ir Pay A m en d m en t has
been designed to c o n tro l and set
wages for city, county and state em­
ployees. It w ill cost m oney to put
this amendment on the ballot. Once
on the b allo t many o f us w ill vote
"y e s ” w ithout thinking. The most
we need to see is something says it is
going to reduce our taxes. Should
you sign this petition? Before you
m ake a decisio n, consider the
possibility that any legal precedent
that controls the wages o f one group
of people can also be used to control
your wages.
T -S h ir ts
Littl« Brother you need a T-Shirt onl
(Celebrate BLACK History M onth w ith/
"O u r" Shirts I Jesse Jackson for President,
Lift Every Voice and Sinq, Afrikan, I Love
You Cornrows, I love my People, I love you Black
Man. I love you Black W om an, and many more
Order by phone: 282-0400
H E P -T -S h ir tt
MRS. C’s
WIGS
M a n y w ig s priced at »6 910 b >15
ids
so
Death train m akes
Portland run
A special tra in c a rry in g 100
hydrogen bombs w ill pass through
the Portland area early Saturday on
its w ay to the T rid e n t base in
Washington.
The all-w hite train has 17 heavily
armed cars, including 3 for guards,
and is capped with gun turrets. It is
guarded by D epartm ent o f Energy
personel ca rryin g m ach ine guns,
hand grenades and other weapons.
The train left the Pentex plant in
A m a rillo , Texas, passing through
T o p e k a . Kansas early W ednesday
afternoon and proceding westward
through Nebraska It is expected to
reach Pocatello, Id ah o , Thursday
night. The exact route to the west
coast is secret, but according to a
spokesman fro m G ro u n d Z e ro , it
will probably take the Union Pacific
line on the O regon side o f the
C o lu m b ia and cross to Vancouver
or take the Burlington Northern line
on the north bank o f the Colum bia
and go directly to Vancouver.
The exact route will be known when
the train leaves Pocatello.
D e m o n s tra to rs have lin ed the
tracks as the train proceded through
the M id w e s t. For fu rth e r in f o r ­
m atio n , call Fellow ship o f Recon-
cilliation, 222-7295, or Pax Christi,
244-6099.
Propret»
Featuring w igs à y N A O M I S IM S A ÑO RE D O U G L A S BILLIE b N A TA LIE COLE
Hair Products
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"W e have everything you need."
T.C .B .
Care Free Curl
eiK
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Ctoeod tea. t Men. OPIN Tttee. thru tat. 11:90 AM to t:00 PM
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