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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 1984)
Pag« 4 Section I Portland Observer, February 22,1964 Racism runs through politics EDITORIAL/OPINION by De. M anning M arable “ From The Grassrooü ' ' We need more than history Last year I travelled to Boston to speak for M el King's mayoral cam paign. King's subsequent defeat by white candidate, Ray Flynn, reveals the inh eren t racism inside U .S . politics, and tells us why it is so d if ficult to obtain progressive change in this country. M el King has a very rich history o f progressive w ork w ith in m u lti ra cial m ovem ents in Boston. For four years, he was Executive Direc tor o f the Urban League o f Greater Boston. F ro m 1973 to 1982, King was the State R epresentative o f Boston’ s Black c o m m u ity , R o x b u ry, and fo r o th e r m ostly w hite neighborhoods. K ing is an unabashed socialist, and in fact, had resigned from the Democratic Party because o f its conservative policies. In 1979's m a yo ra l race. King came in third with 15 percent o f the vote. This tim e around he came in tied fo r firs t in the first race, and finished with over 35 percent o f the vote in the ru n -o ff. I ’d like to see any w h ite ca n d id a te w ith M e l’ s socialist credentials run fo r m ayor o f any m a jo r U .S . city and obtain over a third o f the vote. Thus, in the sense that M e l’s running helped to increase the B lack, Asian and Latino electorate, and that it forced the eventual w inner Ray Flynn to take m any positions sim ilar to the Black teenage unemployment at 68.3 per cent. This means that tw o out o f every five unemployed teenagers is Black. The reported rate for Black women was 15 percent, three times that o f white women. This high unemployment rate among Blacks is not accidental; it is perpetuated by employers who refuse to hire Black workers, aided and abetted by the Reagan Administration's all-out attack on affirmative action and its elimination of job training and education funds. The Black population o f the United States has in its hands the power to reverse this trend by organizing, registering, voting for progressive candidates and, above all, defeating Ronald Reagan. Black History Month is a time for celebration o f the heritage and contributions o f Black Americans, who have been intimately involved in every facit o f American life. However, this year Black History M onth is stained with the highest unemployment rate in recent history. The low point in the economic crises o f 1933— The Great Depression— brought an unemployment rate o f 25.2 percent. Fifty years later, the rate o f unemployment among Black people reached or exceeded that mark. Even more serious, the unemployment gap be tween Blacks and whites is increasing. A fte r W o rld W ar I I , the employment gap became conspicuous; Blacks were unemployed at twice the rate o f whites. Since 1970, the gap has widened u n til in 1984, the Black unem ployment rate is three times that of whites. Official figures for December, 1983, showed a white unemployment rate o f 7.1 percent and a Black rate o f 17.8 percent; two-and-one-half times higher. Among whites 16 years and older, six out o f ten were employed, but among Blacks, only half were employed. O ffic ia l labor statistics understate Black unemployment. In December, 64.5 percent of the whites 16 and older were counted in the labor force, while only 61.0 percent o f Blacks were counted. I f these figures were adjusted to count 64.5 percent o f Blacks, the Black unem ployment rate would be 22.2 percent instead of the 17.8 percent reported. That is 3.1 times the white rate o f unemployment. Adjustment o f official reporting would show To the editor: N o tice how the d o m in an t news media plays hard on the note, things are getting better largely to please our vanity? On the other hand, con sider the big a g ita tio n made over p o llu tio n and spraying o f insec ticides, germicides, anti toxins, etc., until you wonder (if) even electricity isn’ t contam inated? O f course for gro w in g vice, crim e, c o rru p tio n , e tc ., they have very little decon- ta m in a to rs . O ne m arvels how a b illio n C hinese survive w ith o u t these germicide sprays? One o f the biggest pollutors is belief in myths inspite o f all o u r ed u catio n and computers. M y th is a kin d o f m ake-believe such as the m yth th at th e re ’ s no myth anymore! A good example of one o f our bogus m yths is how superior we think we are to, say, the H in d u s w ho let th eir sacred cows and m onkeys d evo u r th eir scarce food supply while they literally starve to d eath . A w fu l! But are we so much better than our make-believe m yth infers? H o w about our great sacred pet-cult with its multi-billion dollar food, medicine, and cosmetic- industry; while some thirty-m illio n A m ericans live below the poverty level? W hat is the difference but one in degree rather than in kind? Sure, a poor man here is rich compared to P ■ V <• sh,‘' s Ass»», .itiön 8 B IW I hr S u m a poor H in d u , but the poor man here feels much more discontented because he knows we have the w herew ithal the other lacks. T alk about myth if this isn’ t a grievous one! of Ihr Unton Paul Brinkman. Jr. Long live democracyl To the editor: The Oregonian’s reportage on the Sales Tax issue has had many readers concerned about the objec tiv ity o f those who gather and comment on this so-called third leg o f taxation. The tunnel vision of(thc Oregonian) reporters has been more than obvious for endless months; in these dying throes o f this big money, bit companies sponsored tax b ill, their vision seems to be even more restricted. Foster Church, of the Oregonian staff, blames "th e eroding support of the timber and home building in dustries, as well as insurance and aluminum interests," for the quan- dry in which Sales Taxers find them selves. It would seem to an unbiased ob server o f our p o litic al scene (as a reporter should be) that the recent poll taken by the United Seniors of O reg o n,300,000 strong, who opted against this measure over tw o -to - one, w ould m ake Sales Tax legislators concerned about th eir own political ( ) at least a little hesi tant about continuing their support. A lso the open o pp o sitio n o f w orkers in A F L - C IO and other Unions banding together w ith the Oregon Grange, Fair Share, Tenants U n io n , and a host o f other co n sumer groups must have been known to the Oregonian reporters. C e rta in ly our legislators knew o f this opposition and were aware of the thousands we spoke for. Perhaps the O reg o nian newshawks could be excused for not knowing o f the popularity o f " N o Sales T a x e rs ” who passed out thousands o f leaflets at super markets against this open raid on ordinary folk's pocket books. I subm it that instead o f as the e d ito ria l in the O regonian avers, "th e legislators are cow ardly," ac tually our elected representatives are finally being responsive to the voters who elected them. In my book that is dem ocracy with a small *d’ . Long live democracy! Buss Farrell Co-convenor Portland Gray Panthers The Observer welcomes Letters to the Editor. Letters should he short, and must contain the writer's name and address (addresses are not print ed). The Observer reserves the right to edit fo r length. U p o n achieving p o litic a l in dependence in I9 6 0 , the diverse peoples o f Nigeria were united by an a r b itra rily d raw n p o litic a l b o u n d a ry , a fo reig n language and a governing apparatus manufactured in G reat B rita in . Far fro m p e r ceiving themselves as partners in fre ed o m , the peoples o f N ig eria share a mutual empathy akin to that o f strangers crushed together in a tr a ffic ja m . Since independence there have been five m ilitary coups resulting in striking though super fic ia l changes in leadership or governmental form . Poverty is the only constant. Lack o f food, water, shelter and health care are the only transcendent social phenomena. Nigerians have suffered equally under m ilita ry and civilian o lig ar chies, and for a brief while, under a constitutional democracy patterned a fte r that o f the U n ited States. A sybaritic elite, no m atter what its label, cannot be an effective catalyst in deploying the enormous wealth and talents o f Nigerians to provide the essentials o f life for themselves. A n y stabie p a n -N ig e ria n g overn ment must be an e ffe c tiv e c o o r d in a to r o f resources fo r all o f its peoples, and must also serve as an in te rfac e w ith the in te rn a tio n a l community. Although we in the United States are disappointed by the resurgence of a m ilitary regime, we must keep in mind that the developmental stress we have experienced over our more than 200 years o f history has fo r N ig erians been concentrated in a span o f less than a quarter century. There are approxim ately 100 in digenous cultural groups which now ™ wwTnewspaper. you. | _ ■ A m a lg a m a te d P u b lis h e r« inc Subscribe today! I ! PORTLAND OBSERVER S News fo r and about | N a tio n a l A d v e r tie m g R e p re s e n ta tiv e New Yoih A tto c ithon • Founded IM S ! 283 2486 Bo« 3,37. Portland. Otegon 97208 ™ ™ I Yas. I would Ilka a subscription! to the Portland Observer. 1 I have enclosed my check or money order for $ 15, for a one year subscription Bm 3,37 Portland Oregon 97208 N am e A d d ress ’ I J J J -------------- -------------- I I I ■ I I ________ Z i p _______ I PLEASE PRINT Mail to Poaland Obaarva, w ill be best served by a stable and truly independent Nigeria. N igeria must develop a sense o f s e lf-re lia n c e , a sense o f w ell- deserved self-respect; Nigeria must value the products created w ith its own minds and hands and resour ces. T o d a y , N ig e ria exists only in terms o f fo re ig n influ en ces. She craves foreign im ports and allows h erself to be dependent upon the guidance o f foreign governments. Nigerians should successfully adapt Western technologies to provide the amenities o f life w ith in the context o f th e ir ow n cu ltu res, thus recreating Nigeria as an expression o f th eir own identities. Nigerians need not accept the chaos thrust upon them by a selfish and inept leadership. They must not rem ain paralyzed in a state o f apathy and fear. The issues o f de fac to indepen dence and cultural identity are not abstract pieties. F ailu re to achieve p a n -N ig e ria n u n ity w ill result in even fu rth e r m ilita ry c o n flic t; breaking o f bones and blood vessels and even oil d rillin g installations. N ig e ria is now in a state o f tra n sition which cannot be indefinitely m a in tain ed . The re so lu tio n o f its d ilem m a w ill d eterm ine its fu tu re and even now serves as a pattern for the other nations o f Africa. *Dapo Sobomehin has a Ph. D. in P o litic a l Science, is a n a tive o f N igeria an d w orks as a H uman gelation s Specialist f o r the C ity o f Portland. by Congressman Ron Hyden The P , i n l a n d U b t n i r i tU S P S 959 5801 it Bub’u h rd • ThuivcM» b» f «ir Puhi.thing Com pin» inc 220’ Morth X.I'.nqi « w in Port'and Omgon 97217 P ott OMic» B o, 3 ,3 7 Pot,land Otegon 97208 Second c l« » po»l*ge pan, at Portland Otego'- Alfred L. Henderson. Edilor/Pubhsher Al Hilhams. Advertising Manager J"" ™ ™ ™ ™ exist in a state o f limbo. They are no longer w illin g to kin d le fire s , yet they are unable to m a rs h a ll the material and expertise to maintain a reliable source o f electric light. Doc to rs, arch ite cts , engineers and p rofessionals o f all sorts devote their talents to the establishment o f th eir p riv a te fo rtu n e s , eith er at hom e or a b ro ad . As tra d itio n a l social structures are ab an d on ed , a lie n a tio n becomes m ore w id espread, leading to ap ath y among the powerless and a selfish o p p o rtu n ism am ong the m ore For the past 24 years, Nigeria has been a p o litic a lly independent nation possessed o f valuable natural resources(not the least o f which is o il), varied cultural traditions, and an educated manpower. For the past 24 years, most N ig eria n s have chosen to ign o re or misuse these elements o f via b le n a tio n h o o d . Callousness and lack o f in itia tiv e are evident at all levels o f social in teraction, from lack o f self-respect, lack o f regard between neighbors, dangerously u n san itary m a rk e t places, to the massacres o f civil war. The carelessness and co rrup tion o f those w ho have ruled N ig e ria have forced the people in to these co n d itio n s. The blue-eyed co lo n ialis ts no longer o v e rtly dominate, but the brown-eyed neo colonialists have created their own brands o f suffering. A fte r N igeria became independent the first men to assume power were ruthless in the pursuit o f th eir p riv a te interests. Some o f these dictators have since fled to Europe, glutted w ith gold, sheltered by their Western sponsors w ho do not understand that they Washington Hot Line The Po'ltand Observer w e t etteWithed in ,970 Subtcnphont »15 00 pet yea, m Ihe Tn County atea P o t, m a tte r Send eddtett change» ,o ,he Ponlanil Observer P 0 MEMBER H ow ever, an analysis o f greater Boston's lab o r m a rk et reveals (he reason that thousands o f Blacks and Hispanics viewed M e l K in g ’ s cam paign as a significant battle against racism . 22 .3 percent o f a ll Black workers in Boston are found in low- paying service jo b s , co m p ared to only 8.7 percent o f the w hite labor fo rce . A lm o st tw o -th ird s o f a ll Black workers (6 4 .2 percent) are in eith er service, u n s k ille d , sem i skilled. or clerical jobs. Conversely. 38.3 percent o f whites ano only 19.7 percent o f Black em ployees are either managers, professionals or technicians. Side by side, tw o distinct political economies exist in the city o f B oston; an u n d erp a id labor market for the poor and racial m in o rities , and a lab o r m arket o f the white, upwardly mobile middle- to -u p p e r classes. T h is is the ro o t cause o f the racist rhetoric, the anti busing polemics o f the recent past, and the regular outbursts o f racist- motivated violence against people of co lor. W h ite “ lib e ra ls ” w ho con tinue to minimize the role o f racism as the key for understanding the rise o f the Right w ill never be able to develop ongoing, p rin cip led links w ith the Black m ovem ent fo r equality and self-determination. by Dapo Sobomehin* Portland Observer J liberals. From independence to freedom Letters to the Editor_____ Examine myths King’s, the race was a real success. W h y d id M e l K in g lose the general election ? Thousands o f white liberals and progressives who share his p o litic s ca p itu la te d to F ly n n , a ca n d id a te w ho had firs t become prominent as an anti-busing leader. W hen b o th w ere serving co n cu rren t term s in the state legislature, Flynn had voted "y es” for reestablishing the death penalty, for the lim itation o f abortion rights, and fo r c o rp o ra l punishm ent in schools, w hile King had voted no. F ly n n opposed handgun regis tra tio n , tax in g lan d lo rd s fo r v io latio n s o f the housing code, p ro h ib itin g sexual p reference discrimination by the state, and in creases in state environmental funds. T o be fa ir to F ly n n , in the past six years he made a measurable shift to the lib e r a l-le ft, p ric ip a lly on bread-and-butter issues. But Flynn tended to skirt the term "racism " in his campaign, declaring that "econom ic discrim ination” is the real problem, and that it affects poor white people in South Boston or Charlestown just as seriously as it does poor Black people in Roxbury. This postuYe allowed Flynn to pick up the votes o f the constituency o f a James K e lly , o f the racist South Boston In fo rm a tio n C enter, w hile holding the allegiance o f most white In Septem ber o f 1983, I voted against the resolution that allowed the President to keep A m erican Marines in Beirut. I did so because I felt they had no d efined role and were put in extreme danger without much chance o f gaining anything that was w orth the risk. In short, they were given a mission im possible. U n fo rtu n a te ly , my side o f the vote did not carry the day, and the President was given a blank check to keep the Marines in Lebanon for 18 months. Now , five months later, the fo lly o f that policy has been made clear— the Marines are pulling out. Even though it is not under the best o f circumstances, the pullout is the proper thing to do. The question we must ask now is "how did we get ourselves into this mess?" It was my feeling from the out set th at we all could endorse the stated goals behind Administration p o lic y — support fo r a d em o cra tic a lly elected governm ent in Beirut and rem oval o f all foreign troops from Lebanon. I t ’ s the means th at were in question. As time went on, I became more and more convinced that sending a couple thousand M a rin e s to the Beirut airport was not the way to go about achieving these goals. Tim e and again, at meeting after meeting in the Third District, I was asked to explain just what our boys were doing in Lebanon. A n d th ere was no good ex planation. T h e A d m in is tra tio n seems to believe that our presence there was part o f a conflict between west and east, democracies and communism. It's just not that simple. T h e fa c t is th at w ran g lin g be tween east and west is just a small part o f what is going on in Lebanon. T h a t m a jo r co n flict in Lebanon is re lig io u s — and has been fo r cen turies. G iv en th at s itu a tio n , I d id n ’ t think there was much 2,000 marines and the big guns o f the Battleship New Jersey could do to reverse it. T h a t's w hy I voted against the deployment o f the Marines. That is why I think it is proper that we are now leaving . I o nly wish it could have been months earlier. Portland Observer Classifieds work for you! Call 283-0090
