Page 8, Portland Observer, January 28. 198/
New York's Big Apple:
Racist To The Core
Their face« were contorted with rage, their bodies
wracked with hate As we marched in protest, over
2,000 strong, through the streets of predominantly
white Howard Beach in Queens. New York, we saw
racism in its rawest form
No longer hidden behind
fluffy lace curtains and neat row houses, the obscene
racism that had driven Michael Griffith to his death on
a Queens highway had finally been laid bare
Now. all ma)or charges against the young men who
killed Michael Griffith have been dropped One of them
admitted beating Griffith - even stating during the
attack, “ Let's go back and kill them". Yet they are now
all free, reminders of the racism which pervades not
only a community, but the criminal justice system as
well
Let us remember the circumstances of the Griffith
death which the court so conveniently dismissed
Michael Griffith and two companions were chased by a
mob of approximately 12 whites as the three left a pizza
parlor in Howard Beach. The mob than repeatedly beat
the three Black men with baseball bats and tree limbs
Chasing them like dogs, they forced Michael Griffith
onto the highway where he was struck by a car and
killed. The car was driven by a man whom one of the
victims identified as a member of the mob.
These are the facts of the case, but they do not tell
the whole story. For the whole story can only be seen
on the faces of those who live in Howard Beach We
saw those faces as we marched: the families sitting on
stoops, young and old alike showing the same looks of
rage and disgust For in this community hate is passed
on from generation to generation, from the adults to the
young people who screamed, “ Go back home, niggers,
you don't belong here."
If Howard Beach tells us anything it tells us this: in
New York City, the nation's so-called melting pot,
racism is a way of life A Black man who works in the
Howard Beach area told a reporter he always wears his
uniform home as identification because if he didn't he
would be attacked White security guards routinely pat
rol the area to ensure that Blacks, as one guard noted,
“get through properly".
However, it would be a mistake to see Howard Beach
as an exception in New York City Back in 1982. three
Black Transit employees were brutally beaten in Brook
lyn by a mob of whites as they left a donut shop One of
them, Willie Turks, was beaten to death and left to die
on a sewer grate. In 1963 three Black employees at a
Veterans Administration hospital were attacked by
white youths hurling bricks and bottles as they left
work.
The same year young Michael Stewart was
beaten to death in a subway station by 11 white Transit
policemen Then, in 1984 white members of a SW AT
team shot to death a 66 year old Black grandmother
during an eviction in the Bronx
These are just a few of the racially motivated inci
dents which have plagued the whole city of New York
in recent years The tolerance of the Black community
has been pushed far beyond any rational limit If we
are to deal with this anger constructively we must begin
to build strong local, grass roots organizations, city
wide, to keep the pressure on. Local organizations are
needed which can confront racism proactively, rather
than scrambling to react to each incident after it occurs
The series of mass meetings being planned by and for
the Black youth of New York City is a good start The
first such meeting will be held in a Black church and
this is as it should be For the Black churches, particu
larly, must assume a more active role in this struggle
As always there are those who will now try to mini
mize the horror of the Howard Beach murder by de
faming the character of the victims, or by ferreting
out the so called "good people" of Howard Beach
And as he has always done. Mayor Koch continues to
portray these incidents as isolated incidents and not
symptomatic of the deep seated racism of the entire
city These tricks will not stop us from remembering
what caused this horror, for the Big Apple has been
shown to be racist to the core
Oregon Physician Receives
National Aw ard
E. Michael Can Buskirk, MD. eye
physician from Portland. OR, recei
ved the American Academy of Oph
thalmology's Honor award at the
Academy's 90th Annual Meeting,
Nov 9-13 at the New Orleans Con
vention Center
Or. Van Buskirk, a glaucoma
specialist, is professor of ophthal
mology at Oregon Health Sciences
University Each year, the A AO re
cognizes those members who have
made significant contributions to
the Academy's continuing educa
tion programs. The award was an
nounced at the opening session of
the Annual Meeting, the world's
largest forum on scientific develop
ments in eye care
The American Academy of Oph
thalmology is the world's largest
association of eye physicians and
surgeons, with nearly 14.000 mem
bers
Ophthalmologists provide
comprehensive eye exams, pre
scribe corrective lenses, and diag
nose and treat eye disease
Cooking
Seminars
"State of the Art" Microwave
Cooking Seminars will be presented
by Barbara Harris, author of "Let’s
Cook Microwave", on Friday, Janu
ary 30th and Saturday, January 31
at 10 00 a m in the Northwest
Natural Gas Building Hospitality
Center, 220 N W Second Ave ,
Portland.
The $10.00 ticket includes the
revised edition of "Let's Cook
Microwave" cookbook
Pre regi
stration is required as seating is
limited
Make reservations by cal
ling the Extension Office at 254
1500 lor your local Extension Office
of Oregon State University
Infant and Toddler Lifesaving Course
"Infant and Toddler Lifesaving ’ — a class to teach parents, tea« hers and
others who deal with children how to handle emergencies will be offer I
in February and March at Emanuel Hospital b Health Center
"Infant and Toddler Lifesaving" will be offered from 6 to 1 0 p m Feb
ruary 10 and March 10 at the King City Far West Federal Bank s Comnn
mty Room in Tigard
The class covers infant and toddler cardiopulmonary resus< it.it» n
(CPR1, accident prevention, and how to handle an emergency In addition
general first aid. anatomy and physiology are discussed to provide a tho
rough understanding of CPR and why it works Certification is awarded;
upon completion.
The class size is limited to six participants Register early by calling 280
4284 Course fee is $18
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NEW YOU!
Looking Forward To 1987
Civil Rights Journal Commentary No. 265
by Benjamin F. Chavis. Jr.
As African Americans and others who have waged valiant struggles for
justice and freedom during the past 12 months, we are now positioned to
look forward to 1987 with a sense of renewed vigor, responsibility and faith
There have been victories and there have been defeats during the last year
However, if we had to weigh our struggles for freedom on the balance of
history, the victories won tremendously outweigh the defeats
From the resounding local triumphs in the Alabama Black Belt, to the
winning of congressional seats in Mississippi and Georgia, to providing
the balance of power in important Senate races in states like Florida, North
Carolina, Alabama, California and Maryland we have proven beyond a
shadow of a doubt that we can participate in the political process not only
in our own interests but in the interest of justice for all
The fruits of these successes should not be underestimated or taken
lightly In fact, we have seen a growing political sophistication within the
African American community since 1984 when Rev Jesse Jackson shatter
ed the popular myths of presidential politics in the United States 1987 will
once again be a period of decision making for Rev. Jackson
We are
hoping he will run We are also hoping that millions of people throughout
the nation whQ were transformed by the formation of the Rainbow Coali
tion will start now to prepare the way for massive voter registration and
mobilization 1987 should be the year for maximizing the Rainbow vote so
that when 1988 rolls around, the goal of progressive social transformation
of this society can be more readily attained
Yes. 1906 was a good year for the freedom movement, not only in the
United States, but in South Africa, Latin America, the Philippines, and
Valentine s Dances for Special People
Seniors can celebrate Valentine’s Day in grand style at the Fourth Annual
City Wide Sweetheart Ball sponsored by the Part Bureau's Senior Leisure
Services
Held at Ascention Catholic Church. SE 76th and Yamhill on
Thursday, February 12, from 1 to 4 p m . this free ball features George
Sievert and Orchestra, refreshments, fun booths, mixers, and door prizes
For more information and reservations, call 248 4328
People with mental retardation or multi handicapping conditions can
meet new friends and celebrate Valentines Day dancing to a live band at
one of the Friday Night Dances sponsored by the Park Bureau's Disabled
Citizens Recreation program For ages 15 and older the Valentine' dance
takes place February 13 from 7 30 to ,0 p m at Mt Scott Community
Center. SE 72nd and Harold The fee is $1
throughout the world A world wide momentum appears to be unfolding
that we should all celebrate, for more and more dictators are being removed
from their thrones This is testimony to the axiom that oppression, no mat
ter how brutal, will always be challenged and defeated
There are some who look back at the 1960's and assume that the pro
gress made then was only a freak of history But we know better The pur
suit for that which is right is continuous and never ending That is why we
are excited about the full potential of the coming year Rather than bemoan
the plight of the oppressed, we should have clear and clearer vision of what
needs to be done to eliminate the causes of wrongdoing
and then begin
to make real that vision
In Chicago we know now that we must embrace the progress that Chica
go has made under the leadership of Mayor Harold Washington We know
now that we should embrace the new student activism emerging on many
college campuses across the nation. We know now that we need to accel
erate our anti apartheid and anti-contra efforts, particularly to support the
up-coming 1987 Spring Mobilization in April in Washington, D C The fact
that a number of major U S corporations have announced their intention to
leave South Africa should be greeted by increased efforts on our part to put
more pressure on the Botha regime It would be a serious mistake to ra'se
the victory flag too soon Apartheid has been stunned, but it is still very
much alive
On the local scene, we must continue to challenge inadequate education,
poor and nonexistent housing, police brutality, spiraling unemployment,
and the widespread drug epidemic Thus, our forecast is one of challenge,
change, and courage As always, through it all, an abiding faith in the
power of the forces of truth and righteousness will sustain us
Thu is Ben,am.n F Cheyis. Jr ot the United Church of Christ lor CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL
Public Invitation
7:00p.m.
Wad
Thor»
Fri
9 30 a m 8 5 0 0 p m
Tuesday
12 CX) noon
1 Brown Bag Lunch Classi
7 00 p m
9 X im
M eren eth e Church
4222 N E 12th
(Enter on Skidmore)
Sat
R lvergate C om m unity Church
4737 N Lombard St
Tues
Thurs
7 00 p.m
9 30am
9 30a m
J O IN A N Y CLASS A N Y T IM E
Naw and renewing member» please arrive 20 min earlier
For more information and additional class locations
Call collect I5O3) 297 1021
HIR HIR HOORAY!
i**«
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W »**k H u r t are rw aiaU rw j tz « fe m « rk a tri
* * , < h t « t e u f w r . In U m u t .o n .l I nr C |M > '
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Iru
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NOW OPEN NOW OPEN
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/arv-T'
Free Estim ates
7 00 p m.
Tua»
W EAVING HAIR
Quality Craftmanshlp
Reasonable Rates
Mon
Tem pla Baptist Church
1319 N.E 7th
Fireside Room
The public is invited to an open house celebrating the relocation of the
Portland Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation on Friday, February 27. from 5 30
to 7 30 p m The event will take place at 3833 N E Killingsworth Visitors
may enjoy refreshments and displays focusing on sickle cell disease begin
ning at 1 p.m. during the day The Press is welcome to attend
If all the ham burger» Am erican» eat each year w ere
stretched out side by side, they could circle the earth
four tim es
Professional Service
N ortheast Portland Cantar
Tillam ook Park Bldg
2108 N E 41st Ave
$18 50 b up
or by the ft $4 b up
Bulk Human Hair $23 95 b up
Belly C.S na Proprelor
dougcas Nara«.« ran •HKMAI« «an»«
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(long or specialty styles slightly higher)
iNOW OPEN
Beauty & Barber Supplies
BRAIDS $2.95
3512 N.E. 15th Av.
Store Hours
Davis
Mon 10:00 A M
5:00 PM
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