Page 2, Portland Observer, June 29, 1988
OREGON'S OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN PUBLICATION
Established m 1970
EDITORIAL
/
O P IN IO N
Black Coalition Of Men
PORTL a N&'&&ERVER
Toward
‘English-Plus’
Leon Harris/Gen Mgr
□ Black Men Vow To Take
Control Of Black
Community
witnesses. There is a perception
that if all youths are not provided
with alternative diversions such
as recreational sports, a serious
racial disturbance w ill ensue in
the near future.
owing to take back control
and to dispel the illegal ac­
Gary Ann Garnett
News Editor/Staff Writer
Mary Halw«»od Futrell
tivities in their community, the Lorenzo Poe reported on the
Business Manager
President, NBA
court watch group’s intention to
Black Coalition of Men more than
Mattie Ann Callier-Spears
Joyce Washington
target juvenile offenders at pre­
ore
than
a
few
economists
have
noted
that
when
executives
of
doubled its ranks. An overflowing
Religion Editor
Sales/Marketing Director
trial investigations and to follow
major U.S. corporations are asked what language they expect
contingent met for the second
Arthur Bradford
Danny Bell
their progress through the legal
their sales representatives to master, the answer is almost invariably
consecutive Saturday morning at
Staff Photographer/Reporter
Sales Representative
system. In the interim an educa­
“ English.” When the same question is put to Japanese business ex­
the King Neighborhood Facility at
Richard Medina
Arnold Pitre
tional process w ill be initiated
ecutives, the answer, more often than not, is "Japanese and the
4815 N.E. Seventh Ave. Three of
Photo-Composition
Sales Representative
which
will engender an under­
their five committees detailed the
language of our customers.”
Lonnie
Wells
standing
of the procedural mach­
That contrast of philosophies is at once revealing and disturbing.
Ruby Reuben
strategies they will employ to
Circulation Manager
Sales Representative
inery
which
governs the func­
It suggests that our national ambivalence toward linguistic diversity is
bring about the desired changes,
not only educationally misguided but economically short-sighted.
tioning of the courts.
B. Gayle Jackson
especially among Black youths.
Rosemarie Davis
Comptroller
Those Black youths and adults
Nowhere is this ambivalence more clearly manifested than in our
Mamau, “ The Quiet Warrior,”
Sales Representative
who
enter the Oregon penal sys­
attitude toward bilingual education. Students with limited English profi­
Anderson listed the 12 steps each
tem
will
be monitored further by
ciency (LEP) are among those least well served by our nation's schools.
adolescent must take in the rite of
the
Rev.
James T. Martin’s out­
They are victims — victims of the erroneous view that allowing non-
passage to attain a position of re­
reach
group.
Black prisoners
English-speaking students to receive instruction in their own language
sponsibility within the commu­
complain
of
the
fact
the white pri­
while they develop mastery of English will splinter American society.
nity. Mr. Anderson spoke of the
soners
have
numerous
educa­
No evidence supports this irrational fear. And yet, 13 states have
need for Black men to serve as a
translated
this
fear
into
“
English-Only"
mandates.
These
meausres,
in
tional
and
social
programs
which
e live in a social environment that is manifestly antagonistic
role model for Black youths prior
will
benefit
them
when
they
turn, have fueled education policies that inhibit — and in some cases
and unhealthy. Black leaders must undertake a dual task: They
to the at-risk’ population’s in­
entirely
forbid
—
even
the
most
minimal
accommodations
to
children
return
to
society.
These
Black
volvement with destructive so­
must concern themselves with developing appropriate methodolo­
prisoners have expressed the
gies and tools required for valid analysis-of the Black
for whom English is still a strange new language.
cietal activity. Youths come to
desire to avail themselves of
These policies send an often devastating message to our non-
experience, while at the same time criticing the methodologies and
know themselves by studying the
English-speaking students: Your language does not fit the American
similar programs if they were
tools of Caucasoid western psychology that have served to justify
historical facts that led to the de­
norm, so you had better a d a p t-a n d learn to absorb lessons delivered
sponsored by the Black commu­
racial oppression in the name of "science” or "Civilization. Some
velopment of an African culture
nity. The Rev. Martin discussed
say, Black youth cannot be expected to "adjust” to an antagonistic
that has endured for five millenia.
in a language you are still striving to master.
This message erodes self-esteem. It stymies academic achieve­
how Black prisoner were con­
and unhealthy social environment; on the contrary, it is the environ­
As one develops a positive self-
ment It stigmatizes children. And, ironically, it retards the development
cerned about the many Black
image, he not only attains a con­
ment that must be changed.
of English proficiency. A substantial body of research now supports the
youths who join their ranks. To
As one of the results of Racism, Amerika developed at least
spicuous pride in himself, but
claim that the more intensive the instruction in students' native
prevent such a repetition of their
two primary, separate cultures-one Black and one caucasoid. The
also becomes a functional mem­
language,
the
better
their
performance
on
English-language
tests
in
own failures they want to estab­
origins of the cultures are not at all the same; thus, there should
ber of the society in which he
lish a program similar to “ Going
expectedly be a tremendous difference in behavior and values be-
reading, writing, and math.
lives.
Bilingual education is not a frill. Bilingual programs have the
I tween the two. The collective caucasoid Amerikan has remained ada­
Straight” so that the young Black
An attempt will be made to re­
potential to make today's student with limited English proficiency
male can get an exposure to pri­
mant about the Black man’s need to be like the caucasoid. There are
direct those recalcitrant youths
tomorrow’s linguistically gifted, multilingual American citizen who
also other obvious differences that the caucasoid simultaneously
son life prior to embarking on a
whom the present system has
and selectively refuse to recognize (or only when he benefits). The
life of crime. Useni Perkins an­
enriches our national life and invigorates our economy.
failed. When they become a part
We need these programs. Our nation will best be served not by an
nounced that preliminary dis­
result has been the cultural relativistic position taken by Caucasians
of the extended family they will
English-Only movement, but by an English-Plus movement.
cussions had been held with
as they attempt to use the Anglo-Amerikan standards as tools for
no longer have the need to act out
So long as we regard the native language of students striving for
comparison, judgment, and measurement of the Black man and his
Rogers Cable Television with a
their frustrations because they
English
proficiency as a liability rather than an asset, we will Continue
, society. With the apparent differences in mind, it is totally inap­
vew to establishing such a pro­
will know then that somebody
to threaten their self-esteem and squander their potential. The result
propriate for the caucasoid to judge and evaluate the Black using
gram along with an educational
cares.
will
be an America of lesser stature, an America that is poorer— social­
these (his own) Racist caucasoid standards. An assumption made
Police Officer Harry Jackson
endeavor.
Preparation for a youth con­
here is that Black behavior is no different from caucasoid behavior,
ly, culturally, and very likely economically.
introduced a laundry list of hot
ference and also for a mass dem­
spots that will come under the
which certainly is not true.
Sincere, honest, and well-meaning caucasoids (so-called
onstration is still in the planning
scrunity of the Group. Among
real significance and potential of
helpful and “ liberal” ) perhaps don’t want to appear as Racist, and
stages. Certain logistical and
such
places
are
the
Union
Square
this “ show of strength” — as the
attempt to think of all men as equal and identical. In doing so, they
p h ilo so p h ica l co n sid e ra tio n s
Area,
Grand-Shaver
and
Columbia
reunions were described by
I somehow overlook an unavoidable truth, which is that Blacks and
must be resolved befbre these
Villa.
by Professor McKinley Burt
Newsweek Magazine.
caucasoids want to believe that there is a problem, they eventually
two events can be scheduled.
Notice
was
taken
of
the
incen­
Some very specific problems
wind up discovering one or — at worst — through their interpretation
The Black Coalition of Men ur­
diary
potential
that
is
developing
need to be addressed very early
stemming from an extreme degree of ignorance and naivete, which
ges all America-Africans to join
among
the
late
night
frequenters
on. For instance, much land is
when pointed out causes the caucasoid liberal to become shaken
them next Saturday and to partic­
of the Pioneer Square area. This
lost because the inheritance of a
and disgruntled; and he in turn shows himself as being more
ipate in the exciting process of
problem
involves
conflict
be­
single large parcel often involves
assuming the leadership of the
tween
Black
and
white
youths.
caucasoid than liberal.
as many as a score of individuals.
These so-called caucasoid Christians cannot be held totally
Black community. Black youths
Even with a meager police pre­
Unable to amicably resolve their
responsible for their position because they, too, is partially an
need such role models for their
sence
no
law
enforcement
effort
differences in favor of some type
innocuous victim caught up in the racist structure. Their miseduca-
has
been
viewed
competent
eye­
own salvation.
of cooperative ownership (say a
tional training deals with no reasonable approaches or meaningful
TRUST), the heirs usually end up
solutions that will help them effectively deal with Black Youth.
selling the land for next to noth­
Sociological and Psychological studies dealing with Blacks do not
ing in order to obtain cash for a
help to train Caucasians, they only help to prejudice them. These
prorata distribution. For all prac­
racists — now to be known as “ conservatives” or "strict construc­
tical purposes the land has been
tionists” — with their selective perceptions, conveniently do not even
by Sam Kahl
given away — And some Blacks
notice that most caucasoids suffer from many severe psychological
For the past three weeks, Americans have been bombarded with
have the nerve to laugh at the In­
problems that Caucasians themselves are unaware of. When
Part II
speeches, newspaper articles, and “ TV talk” about legalizing cocaine
dians (This happened in my family
caucasoids want to believe that there is a problem, they eventually
and other deadly "recreational" drugs. This is an organized
60 years ago). Lost are the oppor­
ast week I reported that "The
wind up discovering one o r— worst — through their interpretation
psychological warfare campaign, waged by the policy center for interna­
tunities to develop shopping cen­
Fishermen and Concerned
desperately inventing one. They are so convinced, for example, that
tional bankers known as.the Aspen Institute ... Last month, Aspen’s
ters, warehouses and industrial
Citizens Association of Southeast
Blacks do not enjoy being Black, they have continuously hypotesized
Inter-American Dialogue issued a report demanding the “ selective
parks — or to set-up Real Estate
Louisiana” was instrumental in
legalization” of certain narcotics ... Two years ago, Aspen had quietly
and “ proven” inferiority complexes to exist in the Black Amerikan.
Trusts (with tax write-offs) which
recovering
oil-rich
lands
which
proposed that Ibero-American countries legalize drugs, and use the
This idea has apparently been a projection on their part and a
can offer 99 YEAR LEASES TO IN­
had
been
taken
from
Blacks
“ profits” to pay their huge debt to the big U.S. banks, which contribute
testimony that caucasoids could not survive what they have forced
DUSTRY.
This
last
technique
through
the
manipulations
of
a
heavily to Aspen and dominate its board. The International Monetary
the Black man to survive, without developing some serious and
could finance the college educa­
Fund and World Bank have likewise consistently directed governments
state agency. The success of this
adverse psychological consequences.
tion of every Black youth in a
to turn a blind eye to the narcotics trade, and open up their economies
well-organized legal and political
As usual, inevitably there will be claims that this is a Black
to drug money. Now, with Chase Manhatten and other giant bank»
family clan for the full 99 years.
process underscores the need to
racist presentation of a touchy therapeutic problem. However, this is
slated to be wiped out in a vast “ market shakeout,” this matter ha
I
would
propose
—
as
I
did
expand this technique of large-
not at all a racist approach to solving this problem; rather it is a
taken on renewed urgency for David Rockefeller and his friends. Eve
years
ago
—
that
the
‘Talent
Bank’
scale COOPERATIVE ECONOMIC
desperate plea to have those dealing with Black people and Black
the present, illegal $500 billion a year drug trade is not enough to kee
of
legal
and
financial
expertise
EFFORTS.
problems have some appreciable degree of knowledge concerning
all of them afloat.
.
suggested
here
could
be
based
at
It immediately comes to mind
Black culture, Black jargon, Black behavior, and the Black or Afro-
During
his
nineth
visit
to
Ibero-America
last
time,
Pope
John
Paqj
either
a
progressive
Black
univer­
that in recent years there has
Amerikan psyche, Only then, can therapy be seen as satisfying the
II brought a message of hope to millions of Peruvians who are sufferin'
sity or at a center/foundation
been a tremendous increase in
purposes for which it was initially intended.
under a narco-terrorist seige and being starved out by western bankers
developed
for
the
specific
pur­
the number of structured BLACK
After talking to Black youth, I’m inclined to believe, Laws,
debt
crisis ... In an address to 1 m illion Peruvians, including Presider
pose.
In
consideration
of
the
FAMILY REUNIONS — and that
Ideology, Courts, Jails, Prisons and other institutions represent, rein­
Alan Garcia and his entire cabinet, the Pontiff called on them to seek i
C
h
ris
tia
n
S
c
ie
n
c
e
M
o
n
ito
r
these ‘celebrations of roots and
force and insure definite unequal relations between the ruled and
the Gospel the moral resolve to change “ the life of the Peruvian citizer
newspaper article from which I
kinship’ could serve as an ex­
rulers, between different races, ethnic groups and classes. In a class
ravaged for years by violence and terrorism, poverty, thedrug trade, th'
quoted several disastrous Black
cellent base for retaining (and
and Racist society, laws, ideology and institutions are not neutral.
deterioration of public morality and other evils” ... Speaking to Peruviai
farm statistics, it may be in order
regaining) the LAND! For the past
businessmen on the last day of his visit May 11, John Paul II said, “ the
Ideology justifies the unequal, exploitive and oppressive relations
to
base
such
a
center
at
a
Black
five
years
the
National
Council
foreign debt is not merely a financial or economic question, nor is it
between ruled and rulers, owners and workers; and institutions
Agricultural and Mechanical Col­
of Negro Women has sponsored
merely political, but above all it is ethical and moral. The debt should be
perpetuate those relations.
lege (A&M). From that article
viewed and resolved in light of the principle of solidarity among people«
host cities for “ Annual Black
Dr. Jamil Cherovee
an nations, rich and poor, developed and underdeveloped, so as not te
these jewels relative to the rich
Family Reunion Celebrations.
founder on the reefs of egotism, of lust for profits at any cost, or of
lands of the Mississippi Delta,
President Dr. Dorothy I. Height
narrow-minded, purely materialistic vision of development."
and of Texas; “ The Farmers
has cited a response of “ more
"The Eyes and Ears of the Community”
Home Adm inistration rejects
In the week of May 14-21, top administrators of India and Pakistan
than a MILLION PEOPLE repre­
288-0033
met to discuss various issues that have reached a boiling point betwee1
more than twice as many Black
sentative of all compositions and
the two nations. One of the agenda items was the cross-border traffic i
loan applications as white ...
walks of life ...”
narcotics and arms. There is some hope here that joint action by Indi
others lose land by failing to pay
Now, consider that over 90% of
and
Pakistan can stem the chaos that threatens to engulf the regio
taxes, by not having written wills,
these people have roots in our tra­
PORTLAND OBSERVER
with
the intensification of ethnic separatist movements on both sides of
or by SIGNING WILLS THEY
is published weekly by Exie Publishing Company, Inc.
ditional southern lands. It should
the
Indo-Pakistani border and the influx of huge supplies
5011 N.E. 26th Ave
COULD NOT READ.”
not be that difficult for them to
sophisticated arms into the area.
Portland, Oregon 97211
Perhaps what we should really
take the next step; Relate and
/ N L *
PO. Box 3137
A historic call for "decisive action on the Third World debt prot
look
at here is an evaluation of the
connect
that
MULTI-BILLION
Portland, Oregon 97208
lem”
was
released in West Germany, May 16, as the official response f
kind of ‘education’ received by
DOLLAR HERITAGE to the same
Phone Number: (503) 288-0033
the
German
Catholic Church to Pope John Paul Il's recent encyclics ,
the university-trained children of
type of cooperative economic ef­
Sollicitudo
Rei
Socialis. The call, together with a parallel statement of
these land-losers. Where were
D eadlift«« lor ••• »Mbm ilfad m «feri«l»
fort as carried out by the "Con­
the German Lutheran Church, is intended to bring pressure to bear o r
A rticle« M onday 5 p m . Ads Tuesday 5 p m
they? Where have they been fail­
cerned Citizens” of Louisiana.
the West German government, which will host a huge conference of tht
ed, such that they do not have the
TM Pcx^n« 0WR~
..................... ........ d
’ h°“ld M C'" " ’
There
should
be
a
central
‘bank’
viciously austerity-minded International Monetary Fund/World Ban)
l . b . M d . m l w «l » • - • ' » " ’ Rd H • c c o m p .n ,.« by • . . I t
." ..lo p .
skills and perception necessary
of Black land lawyers and econo­
next September in Berlin. Bishop Hengsbach, who delivered the call if
Subscription. »1S 00 p .r ) « > in « * • T’ K o u n l» arm
to deal with this problem in a bet­ an address in Bonn, West German, urged a policy change to favd|
mists whose expertiste could be
T K . POR TLAND OBSERVER - O -O o n . o l d . . ! A b i e n A m a t e n P u b lic .tlo n - I . . R P » b P o'
development and "concerted action of governments, businesses and
ter fashion?
made available to every ‘Reunion
n X X
............. ....... ........ .
• * n *O d ........ .
■
Continued
Next
Week
Family’
that
has
recognized
the
the banks.”
A d . f t l . i n . R . p . . . f l t . l t » . A m . l . . t n « t . d P u b l l . t t f . Inc
A lfred L. Henderson/Pubiisher
Nyewusi Askari
V
M
Why Blame Black Youth
W
Perspectives
Blacks, Land
And Family
GLOBAL SYNOPSIS:
L
PORTLAND OBSERVER
of,
'f r i ß # * '
I