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Vol. XVII. No. 49
October 21.1987
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Publisher Appoints Top
Executives
Dr. A. Lee Henderson, President, Exie Publishing Company and Pub
lisher of the Portland Observer, named Al Williams as 2nd Vice President
and Leon L. Harris as General Manager and Controller for Exie Publishing
Company.
Al Williams
Vice President
Amina Anderson discusses the Black United Fund with Fareeda Muhammad of the Community Development Cooperation.
Leon L. Harris
General Manager
"The Observer has made remarkable gains under Mr. Williams as
General Manager," Dr. Henderson stated. "The appointment of Leon will
strengthen the team and enable us to realize our long range goals much
faster, while maintaining our reputation as a respected community voice
and community advocate.
The Portland Observer is one of Oregon’s largest weekly publications
and is the oldest African American publication in the state.
Photo by Richard J. Brown
Black United Fund of Oregon
A Self-Help Concept For the Black Community
by Leon Harris
Accordinq to Amina Anderson, President of the Oregon Chapter of the
8lack United Fund, local programs which do not meet the funding criteria
under the guidelines of United Way may soon find some relief if the BUF
fundraising campaign is successful.
The Fund raises money to support minority-controlled institutions
outside the realm of interest of traditional charities. The mechanism used
by the BUF to solicit Black dollars is the payroll deduction svstem the most
'-onvenient and least costly method of raising funds.
Described as a "social movement that is designed to improve the qual­
ity of life for African Americans through reliance on self-help at the local
community level,” the organization grew out of the realization that African
Americans as a people have a responsibility to assist their own growth and
development, that they could not forever go to the larger white community
for support without doing something themselves.
"The overall goal of BUF," explains Amina, "is to promote self-suffi­
ciency and self-determination within Portland's African American commu­
nity by building a relationship between African American employees and
organizations in the community.
Created by Walter Bremond, who died of a stroke in New York in 1982,
the National Black United Fund claims some fifteen affiliates throughout
the country. Each affiliate is independent and autonomous; assuring the
survival of the Black United Fund at the community level and establishing
accountability locally. The national organization serves as a coordinating
and planning body providing technical assistance to local affiliates as well
as groups interested in forming BUF organizations. Technical assistance
provided includes; fundraising techniques, fiscal management, community
organizing strategies, program evaluation and allocating contributions to
local groups outside affiliate areas.
"The BUF is a self-help mechanism for the Black Community," claims
Amina, who states that the self-help concept "has been utilized effectively
by other groups such as Catholic Charities, United Jewish Appeal, and
Protestant Welfare.”
Amina explains that the BUF differs from United Way in that the Fund
At a press conference in the King Neighborhood Facility, memners
of the Portland Chapter of the Rainbow Coalition, labor unions and
Black and Asian communities affirmed their support for Democratic
Presidential front-runner Jesse Jackson. A formal organizational
campaign committee will soon be announced, said Maceo Pettis
would piovide some financial assistancefor projects that are not funded by
ts counterpart (United Way). Economic development and arts and culture
are but two areas that would receive funding consideration under the BUF
plan.
The local affiliate is negotiating with IBM, PPS and other major busi­
nesses in the state in an attempt to gain identity and equal access through
the payroll deduction system. However, like its parent organization, the
Portland Chapter has encountered some opposition from the businesses
and United Way alike.
The BUF would like to run its campaign simultaneously with United
Way of Oregon, as most businesses prefer one fundraising event yearly,
citing other fundraisers as too time consuming and costly.
This was proposed to Tri-Met by the BUF; but the plan met stiff oppo­
sition from United Way, who wanted the Fund, instead, to solicit through
the Donor Option System.
•
"The Donor Option System does not w ork," claims Amina, "because
United Way does not allow other charities to advertise in organizations
which they (United Way) have an agreement w ith ."
The national chapter won a federal court suit allowing it to join the
Combined Federal Campaign for charities in 1980, but had to withstand
an appeal by both the Federal Government and United Way.
"Also, through the Donor Option System, 9% of all dollars contributed
to the BUF would go to United Way. This is an unfair deduction of dollars
that could be utilized by some needy agency," state Anderson.
According to Jim Cowen, General Manager, Tri-Met, an agreement
has been reached that would allow the BUF and United Way to conduct
separate campaigns at Tri-Met. "We feel that our employees should have
an option as to how they would like their contribution dollars earmarked,
as some do have a favorite charity," Cowens explained.
Amina Anderson believes the problems are not insurmountable and
that continuing discussions will result in an amicable resolution.
Information regarding the BUF can be obtained by writing to P.0. Box
12406, Portland, Oregon 97212, or calling 503-282-7973.
id from L), Chairman of the Oregon Rainbow Coalition, Portland
lapter, with a strong emphasis on voter registration. Pettis also
ve a report from the National Rainbow Coalition meeting held
Raleigh. N.C.
Photo by Richard J. Brown
Why We
Can't Wait
by Nyewusi Askari
After reading Fran Gardner's article "Educators say, Give system a
chance to help minority students'," (The Oregonian, Oct. 18, 1987), and,
after soliciting some opinions from African-American parents, I am con­
vinced that the Black community will not wait any longer for Portland
Public Schools to get its act together. I am also convinced that a growing
number of African-Americans are furious about the "bashing" of Ron Hern­
don by Portland Public Schools' representatives.
The fact that the article appeared in the Sunday’s Oregonian is not as
significant as some of the precarious, pragmatic, and sarcastic statements
that were made, especially those made by Marcia Douglas, the city of Port
land's school liaison.
Disparagingly, Ms. Douglas weaved a noxious web of onus assertions.
In one breath she asserts, "The disparity in the achievement levels (accord­
ing to race) is not something to be tolerated . but, Herndon is bringing his
wonderful ideas to the table in a confrontational way."
Like so many others in the past and present, Ms. Douglas is confusing
the issue. Ron Herndon is not the issue. The voice of Ron Herndon, con­
frontational as it may sound, is the homogeneous voice of thousands of
African-American parents who live in this community. Those so-called
wonderful ideas Ms. Douglas spoke of as actually ideals that have grown
out of the African-American quest for equal and quality education.
Sounding like an intermediary, Ms. Douglas defended Dr. Matthew
Prophet's (Portland Public Schools' Superintendent) role in boosting pro
grams for minority students. While stressing that his role should be
acknowledged, she commenced to scold the community and Mr. Ron
Herndon: "The community that needs to be behind him (Dr. Prophet) is
not behind him . . . I think that's a little shortsighted of Ron . . . "
Ask Black parents, and they'll tell you that Ms. Douglas doesn't know
where the community stands. Ask these same Black parents, and they II
tell you that the Black community stands where it has always stood when
it comes to the education of their children: committed to action.
This commitment to action has been, and.still is, the motivating force
behind African-Americans' quest for equal and quality education. In 1803,
it motivated George Bell, Nicholas Franklin and Moses Liverpool to open
the first school for African-American students in Washington, D.C Neither
of them could read or write. It motivated Prince Hall, founder of Masonary
for African-Americans, to open a school in his home. It motivated the First
Conventions of Colored Peoples, in 1817 and in 1830, to adopt resolutions
urging education for African-Americans.
Douglas' description of Mr. Herndon as "shortsighted" was deroga­
tory and despicable. Mr. Herndon, because of hard work, sincerity, per­
severance, dedication, and heritage, is one of this community s most
respected leaders. His courage is beyond reproach. Often, he is the man in
the trenches; shot at from the hip and renounced from the hilltop. Ms.
Douglas is a poor shot. Perhaps it's because she has poor vision. In this
community the issue is the fact, and the fact is: in spite of Portland Public
Schools excellent programs, in spite of its excellent teachers, in spite of its
excellent Superintendent, in spite of the system in place, African American
students are not receiving quality education.
These students, thousands of them, live in this community; and it s
easy to know what's happening to their academic development. When
their parents ask them to read and discover that they can’t, when their
parents ask them to scribble a note and discover that they can t write, when
their parents ask them to count the correct change and discover that they
can't calculate, when their parents ask them to explain what they have been
taught about African-American history and culture and discover that they
haven't learned; when their parents look into their young eyes and see
nothing but blank spaces, they are made award of just how serious the
crisis is.
These parents are not willing to wait thirty years for this crisis to end.
Continued on Page 7