Page 2, Portland Observer, June 22, iybe
OREGON S OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN PUBLICATION
E s Id b liM ie d m 19/0
Gary Ann Garnett
Nyewusi Askari
Business Manager
News Editor/Staff W riter
Joyce Washington
Mattie Ann Callier-Spears
Sales/Marketing Director
Religion Editor
Danny Bell
Arthur Bradford
Sales Representative
Staff Photographer/Reporter
Arnold Pitre
Richard Medina
Sales Representative
Photo-Composition
Ruby Reuben
Lonnie Wells
Sales Representative
Circulation Manager
Rosemarie Davis
B. Gayle Jackson
Sales Representative
Comptroller
GUEST
EDITORIAL
Adrienne Weller
Portland Needs A Strong
Police Review Board
his Spring Portlanders all drug problems. In N.Y. State in
over the city voiced strong 1987 Black Men Against Crack,
radical community activists who
concern about police abuse, fear
were
exposing police drug deal
of reporting abuse to the police
ings,
were framed by police for
because of known incidents of re
gun
possession.
taliation and a demand for police
One look at the bulk of com
review independent of the police
plaints
of abuse clearly exposes
in a series of community meet
police
bias.
Complaints are made
ings organized by Police Internal
by
the
same
people who fill the
Investigations Auditing Commit
jails
to
overflowing
— the poor,
tee (PIIAC) members to gather
people
of
color
and
women.
citizen input. Public concern was
Without
a
board
with
powers
to
accurate and timely.
effect
police
department
policy
Portlanders, especially people
of color, women and poor are vul and correct abuse Portlanders are
nerable to police abuse. They in danger from those who are sup
need, now more than ever with posed to protect them.
Portland City Council ignores
the resignations of the PIIAC
the
connection between a failing
Chair, John Ransom and Vice
economy
and an increase in
Chair, V. Jean Vessup, a strong
community-controlled police re crime. As the economy falters the
view committee. It must be em police, backed by rightwing busi
powered to investigate all cate ness interests, push only to con
gories of police abuse, to deter trol people. If city government is
mine and enforce corrective serious about eliminating crime
action and should replace the In they must create jobs and social
ternal Investigations Division, services which people need to
which is the police policing them survive and not cut funds from
selves and has proven itself in essential programs to fund more
capable of fair handling of citizen police. Money for jails must be
used to ease overcrowding and to
complaints.
create
programs so those in jail
The toothless PIIAC was set up
have
a
chance to prosper when
to fail. It is one of the weakest
they
are
released. You do not
review boards in the nation, and
need
to
be
an expert on drugs and
had been even more weakened by
gangs
to
know,
and even experts
appointees who are avowedly
have
written,
that
only good jobs
hostile to its function of police
with
decent
wages
can replace
oversight and therefore unfit to
the
hopelessness
that
causes
serve and by the resignation of
young
men
and
women
to
waste
the above two members commit
their
lives
on
the
streets.
ted to police review, one of
Without programs for human
whom, Vessup, was the only
Black representative on the needs, and with increased call for
police crackdowns, the result is
committee.
The need for control of police not safer streets but police li
is manifest locally and nationally cense and more deaths, harass
by outrageous abuse. In Portland ment and brutality against the
unarmed Black men, Lloyd Stev disadvantaged, the mentally ill,
enson in 1985 and Solon Sanders the unemployed, and those who
in 1987, were killed by police with exercise their right to protest and
impunity. Portland's "Red Squad" organize to improve an unequal
uses tax dollars to spy on activist status quo.
City Council, and specifically
and radical groups that oppose
Commissioners
Blumenauer and
U S. government intervention in
Bogle
are
responsible
to prevent
Central America. In Eugene, May,
PIIAC
from
becoming
another
1988, Eugene school teachers
com
m
ittee
that
whitewashes
sued the city manager and the po
lice for attacking their picket line police misconduct. Jim Simpson
and for false arrest during their and all others opposed to police
1987 teacher strike. In Seattle, review should be removed. A
March 1988, 2 unarmed Black strong board, independent of the
men were shot by police and in re police department and immune to
sponse to community protests pressure from the mayor’s office,
the mayor and police chief shifted should be established and staffed
the blame to the Black communi with members drawn from those
ty who were demanding action on most targeted by police bias —
T
PORTLAND OBSERVER
is published weekly by Exie Publishing Company, Inc
5011 N.E. 26th Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97211
P O Box 3137
Portland. Oregon 97208
Phone Number: (503) 288 0033
D eadlines for all s ubm itted m aterials
Articles M onday 5 p m
Ads Tuesday 5
T h . R m tl.n d O b . « . . - » . i c o n . . . I . . . l . n c . .u b m .M .O " .
M . n u . c n p t . .n d p h o l o , . .p h . .h o u ld b . C I...I»
labe led and will be returned if accom panied by a self addressed envelope
St 5 00 per year in the Tri County area
T h . POR TLAND OBSERVER -
N . W . P . P . . A llo c u tio n -
O r .flo n , o ld .s l A trlc .n A m P fic .n P u b h c .h o n -
r o tin d .d Id . » «
. . ■ m . m b .. ot T h . N .h o n
T h . O - . , . n N . w . p . p « R u b h . h . . . A „ o c . .l l o h . h d T h . N .h o n .!
A dvertising R epresentative A m algam ated P ublishers. Inc
New *ork
/
Our
Democratic
Mission
Leon Harris/Gen Mgr
A llre d L. Henderson/Pubiisher
Subscriptions
EDITORIAL
Mary Hatwood Futrell
P resid en t NBA
For example, in 1978 alone,
merica’s appetite for educa
more
than 650,000 Asians arrived
tion reform is still robust,
in
America.
That immigration
and I am delighted that it is. I am
brought
to
our
shores the largest
even more delighted that reform
non-white,
non-Western,
non-Eng
efforts are at last focusing on pro
lish
speaking
group
ever
to enter
found systemic change, on the
this
country
at
one
time.
comprehensive restructuring of
That Asian influx is only the
schools. This is a pivotal develop
most
dramatic example of a much
ment.
larger
pattern. By the year 2020,
There is little doubt that Amer
almost
40 percent of America’s
ica’s commitment to a system of
citizenry
will be minorities. Our
free, universal, egual education
nation
will
be home to 47 million
stamps our nation with unique
Hispanics,
44 million Blacks, 15
ness. In the United States, as in
million
Asians,
and 3 million
virtually no other country, educa
Native
Americans.
tion is the loom that weaves to
We dare not underestimate the
gether our splendidly varied
potential
of this population. We
social tapestry. It is also
dare
not
squander this national
dem ocracy's deliverance. As
treasure.
Thomas Jefferson once put it,
No one has better made this
“ Education is the anvil upon
point
than Maryland Superintend
which democracy is forged,”
ent
of
Schools, David Hornbeck.
J e ffe rs o n u n d e rs to o d th a t
“
There
was a time,” says Horn
America's strength would depend
beck,
“
when
the victim of our fail
on the development and subse
ure
with
any
youngster was only
quent contribution of all its
that
youngster.
But today, we all
people.
become
the
victim.
America can
Jefferson’s admonition is today
no
longer
afford,
can
no longer
more true than ever before. That
permit,
throwaway
or
disposable
is why — as we restructure educa
children.”
tion — we must grant center stage
To those insightful words I
to the schools’ most important
would
add only this. When we
element, the young Americans
make
minority
children wait for an
who inhabit them.
education,
when
we deny them
I offer this reflection as an an
equal
opportunity,
when we con
tidote to reform discussions that
sider
them
too
expensive
to edu
too often ignore the fact that the
cate,
we
not
only
betray
our
dem
clientele of our schools is chang
ocratic
ideals
—
we
sap
America’s
ing. Many of the youngsters in
human resources.
school today — the product of the
A restructured system of Amer
second largest wave of immigra
ican
education must never allow
tion in our nation’s history — look
that
to
happen. Never.
and sound different from their
predecessors.
A
family farms, fishing and crafts. In
this century, it was first the Fed
eral Writer's Projects of the de
pression— and later, the interven
tion of World War II — which
opened up to national view the ex
istence of these rich lush, almost
idyllic lands — A highly commer
cial view, in fact.
In the early 1970's National
Geographic Magazine carried a
series of picture essays on these
lands, citing their economic
significance. Lands which were
purchased for 3-5 dollars per acre
from parents of Blacks who had
gone ‘ashore’ to acquire an
‘education’, and an urban life
style — were now selling for over
$1,000
a front INCH! One issue of
Part I
the magazine featured an ad for
by Professor McKinley Burt
the ‘Hilton Head Resort’; a m il
en years ago I wrote an article
lionaire’s playground for golf, ten
for the Observer under a simi nis, boating and conventions; a
lar title. Since then there have h a lf-b illio n d o lla r enterprise
been significant changes in some
where, only two decades before,
sectors of our economic situa little Black children dug their toes
tion. What we will describe here
into the sand. Think about it!
is a gradual loss or attrition of a
Another classic and commonly
people’s most priceless heri practiced process which has ac
tage— THEIR LAND. The pro counted for losses now in the bil
blem is rural as well as urban, for
lions may be termed a “ Bohemia
in modern America, RURAL IS Spillway Caper.” Here, sixty years
BECOMING URBAN.
ago, southwest of New Orleans,
From 560,000 Black farmers in
Louisiana, the Grand Prairie
1950, their number dropped to
Levee District suddenly decided
57,000 in 1978. I incorporated par that large tracts of Black-owned
ticulars of this process into my
land would be an excellent site
“ Black Urban Economics" class,
for a spillway to protect New
taught at Portland State Univer Orleans from floods. The Blacks
sity, 1971-1978.1 made it clear that
were uncerimoniously displaced
in order to understand the pre from their lands, receiving only a
carious Black economic situation
pittance for their roots and heri
of today, it was necessary to
tage (if you',e getting disturbed
research back to the period after
think about home first).
the Civil War. Contrary to con
I quote from the Christian
ventional wisdom, we have not
Science Monitor for October 25
"progressed as rapidly as would
1986: "The land that was taken is
be expected in a hundred years of
producing about $3,OCX),000 an
‘freedom’.” The modicum of pro nually in oil and gas revenue ... In
gress has been INSPITE OF thou 1984 the Louisiana Supreme
sands of exploitative games and
Court handed down a decision
economic thefts. Since these rip-
upholding an order to RETURN
offs are not cited in the texts of
THE LAND (To the Blacks). It is
sociology, economics and his important to note that the Blacks
tory, I say that the conclusions
had to organize legally and polit
reached therein are meaning ic a lly
to
a c h ie v e
th is
less— and insulting.
victory — “ The Fishermen and
Let me cite some examples. In Concerned Citizens Association.’
the Sea Islands' off the coasts of
Some situations can be retrieved
South Carolina and Georgia,
and there is a lesson here for
thousands of former slaves stak Portland Blacks.
ed out an existence based upon
■ Continued Next Week
O P IN IO N
Religious Leaders Urges
Reagan For Human Rights
Intervention in South Africa
e have prayerfully observed the historic meeting between Presi
dent Reagan and Secretary Gorbachev and their efforts to de-
escalate the arms race and broaden channels of communication bet
ween the two nations. We are thankful for any movement toward these•
worthy goals and shall continue to pray for God's guidance and blessing
in the waging of peace.
We also observed with appreciation the President’s emphasis on 1
human rights in the Soviet Union with particular concern for the right oft)
dissent, and freedom of religion.
In view of the announced intent of the religious community in
South Africa to challenge the government’s restriction against dissent,V
and to launch a new offensive against apartheid, we respectfully urge
the President, while there is global attention on human rights
precipitated by his pronouncements and meeting with dissidents in the
Soviet Union, to call upon the South African government to respect the J
human rights of the Black majority and their white supporters in South
Africa to peacefully protest and campaign against apartheid.
We respectfully remind the President that nowhere in the world Is*
the violation of human rights and the right to peacefully protest more
blatant and more brutal than South Africa.
We shall seek to meet with President Reagan, Vice President
Bush and Secretary of State George Schultz to share our concerns
about human rights, freedom of religion and the waging of peace —
and offer our good offices to assist the President in developing and
shaping our nation’s policies in opposing apartheid and calling for pro--
tection of human rights in South Africa.
Rev. Joseph Lowery, President - Southern
Christian Leadership Conference; P°v.
Patricia McClurg, President - National Coun
cil of Churches (N.Y.); Bishop Frederick
Talbot - AME Church; Rabbi Alvin Sugarmon -
Reformed Judaism; Bishop Joseph Coles -
CME Church; Rev. E. J. Jester, President -
Baptist Ministers Union; Rev. Clinton Marsh -
Christian Council of Churches; Thondi
Geobashe - American Friends Service Com
mittee; Rev. James Costen, President - In
terdenominational Theological Center; Rev. (
Anthony Motley - Baptist Ministers Con-'
ference; Rev. C. L. Henderson, Superinten
dent - United Methodist Church.
W
Founding President
Marlin Luther King, Jr.
SCLC
Civil Rights Journal
Perspectives
Blacks, Land
And Family
T
Zambia
by Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.
resident Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia and the people of Zambia
should be congratulated on their progress as an African nation
committed to the independence and freedom of all of Africa. Kaunda
led Zambia to independence from the British in 1964 and since that
time he has as president become a role model for African statesman
ship and leadership.
Despite severe economic difficulties at the time of
independence and the continued acts of aggression by the racist
government of South Africa to destabilize the southern Africa region, .
Zambia has been able to achieve remarkable political and economic j
progress. I recently visited Zambia as part of a tour of the frontline na
tions that border South Africa. I was very impressed with the sense of
pride and accomplishment of the people and government of Zambia.
Zambia is a large nation that is greater in size than the com
bined area of the nations of France, Belgium, The Netherlands, and
Switzerland. It has a population of approximately six million. Located
in central southern Africa, it is bordered by Angola, Zaire, Namibia,
Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania. Although Zambia is a
completely land locked nation, it is one of the most agriculturally rich
nations on the continent. Zambia also has valuable minerals in
cluding copper.
The week that I spent in Lusaka, Zambia, the capital city, was
quite a learning experience. First, I witnessed a truly modern African
society. Lusaka is a metropolitan area with most of the conveniences
one might expect to find in the capital city of a European nation. Yet
this city has held on to its indigenous African culture and tradition.
Secondly, although English is the language used by the majority of
the people, traditional African languages are still being spoken with a
sense of pride and self-determination. In fact one Zambian offical and
I talked to was quick to emphasize "As a developing nation we need '
the assistance of the world community to help in our development,
yet we also know that we have something to offer the world
community as an African nation.”
Indeed Zambia has reached out to hundreds of thousands of
fellow Africans who have come to Zambia seeking refuge from war
situations in South Africa, Namibia, Angola, and Mozambique. I was
even surprised to find a community of African Americans who are
living in Zambia after being exiled from the United States. Zambia has
also provided the sanctuary for the African National Congress to have
its international headquarters. Zambia also provides a unique model
for church/state relationships. The United Church of Zambia which
has about one million members works very closely with the Zambian
government on educational projects.
Humanism is the national philosophy of Zambia. It is the basis
of all of the policies and programs of the government of Zambia
under Kuanda’s leadership. All the development effort in Zambia is *
based on Humanism. It is a way of life which emphasizes the impor
tance of humanity as the center of all activity. It stresses human
dignity, equality of all, the extended family, hard work and self
reliance, resistance to exploitation and oppression, and the promo
tion of unity and justice. In the words of President Kuanda, "our
revolution is a Humanist revolution. We have decided to wage a
struggle against imperialism, neo colonialism, fascism, and racism
on the one hand; and hunger, poverty, ignorance, disease, crime, and
exploitation on the other hand. This is what our revolution is all
about."
P