Page 2, P ortland Observer, July 13, 1988
OREGON S OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN PUBLICATION
Established >n 1970
PORTLñWb S
erver
Leon Harris/Gen Mgr
Gary Ann Garnett
Nyewusi Askari
Business Manager
News Editor/Staff Writer
Joyce Washington
Mattie Ann Callier-Spears
Sales/Marketing Director
Religion Editor
Arthur Bradford
Danny Bell
Staff Photographer/Reporter
Sales Representative
Richard Medina
Arnold Pitre
Photocomposition
Sales Representative
Lonnie Wells
Ruby Reuben
Sales Representative
Circulation Manager
Rosemarie Davis
B. Gayle Jackson
Comptroller
Sales Representative
EDITORIALCOM M ENTARY
by Professor McKinley Burt
.» ♦>/.
f»4»
.
_
z
'4
■ ■£
,. ; r.»
Lv.’ -.
X
W
/ ..
..' 3. „
-^S»*
,.• * . ,4
v* • . J
\ • . it
<• * *
Z£>S?/
»-■
*
«4
’Z
h V £• *A
' •S'*’Â
«r Æ
«
I would like to com ment on three of the ‘Inform ational Memos’
the Observer received last week.
1 From Congressman Les AuCoin, “ Strong Medicine For South
A frica’s Ills ” . The Congressman reminds us that he has co
sponsored HR1580, a bill calling for the “ near total trade embargo
and immediate ban on ALL U.S. investment in South Africa (in
troduced by Black Congressman Ron Dellums of California). The bill
has the title, “ Anti-Apartheid Act Amendments of 1988". Another
co-sponsor is Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio of Eugene.
Mr. AuCoin has very deftly made the case that such pallatives as
President Regan’s “ constructive engagement” , and sim ilar “ more
carrot-less' s tic k ” gam bits have not and w ill not work. “ Limited
sanctions imposed by the congress two years ago have been weakly
enforced or sim ply ignored." A most telling point is made by the
congressman, “ New, tougher econom ic sanctions can be made to
work so long as THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT WORK ALONE!
We must invite South A frica’s other major trading partners to join us
in isolating the Apartheid economy...Great Britain, West Germany
and Japan.”
Now I have placed the term “ invite” in bold because I do not
believe that a mere invitation w ill persuade these free-wheeling en
trepreneurs to cooperate in applying really tough sanctions against
the despicable in stitutio n of Apartheid. It is my opinion that the
United States could and should apply to those nations the
ECONOMIC LEVERAGE which it is in a position to use— the dollar
may have sunk in value, but it has not lost any of its allure for
avaricious merchants of death. Thank you!
2 From Com m issioner Dick Bogle, “ Action! Thats Why I Pro
posed ‘A Gang Sum m it’.” A problem here may be the choice of the
term “ sum m it” . It may very well promote a negative public percep
t on of the process which Mr. Bogle proposes to initiate. It is a wore
well overworked by mass-media in coverage of internationa
politics, local politics, and everthing else. It could m itigate against
a possibly useful process.
It is not nit-picking, for, in a good dozen conversations regarding
the com m issioners proposal, a standard reply has been, “ Oh no-not
another SUMMIT!” In the com missioners favor is the fact that
THERE IS NO SUCCESSFUL ACT TO FOLLOW. But on the other
hand, Mr. Bogle echoes in his memo some of the very trepidations
being voiced on the street, “ Never have these bodies (organiza-
t ons) worked as a single unit to solve a complex problem such
as...criminal gangs; Never have all the key players met on the same
field w ith one goal in m ind,” (City Council, County Commissioners,
Sheriff, D istrict Attorney, Governor and so on.)
Now, if there is “ fear of flyin g ” , and there is "fear of rhetoric” ,
think that what Com m issioner Bogle might do to allay public fears
of another “ Much To Do About N othing” is to move beyond the
p o le m ic s o f the m em o we received, “ c o n s o lid a te our
knowledge...coordinate our actions...” Spell out specific moves
which would constitute a rigid, realistic fram ework—a structure
that would LOCK IN all those m illing, diparate "bod ies” in a struc
ture which would prevent them from escaping their tax-paid respon
sib ility to our com munity.
We know that you have the skills and experience to im plem ent a
workable process. W ill you do it Mr. Bogle?
3 Top Pricipals In The Nation Meet. Let me comment on my
Educational Adventure of the past week. I WENT IN SEARCH OF
EXCELLENCE—AND I FOUND IT! I was a participant at the “ Part
ners For Success; Business and Education” conference at
Gearhart, Oregon, sponsored by the Albina M inisterial Alliance and
the Tom Peters Group. For details see the comprehensive report in
this same edition.
What I want everyone to know is how proud I was of the local
orime movers in the a ffa ir—Mr. Ron Herndon, Director of the Child
Dare Division of the Alliance and Ms. Dia Norris, the Coordinator of
Special Services. For “ Ronnie” , the originator of the concept, this
must certainly have been a high point in his twenty-year career of
com m itm ent to Educational Excellence for Black children. To “ Dia
and the never-flagging staff, I w ill say that It could never have hap
pened w ithout you.
When in the august company of over two-score of the most suc
cessful and highly recoginized educators In the nation, one might
expect to witness some personality c o n flic ts — not the case! What I
did see was an extraordinary exercise in the free exhange of infor
mation, viewpoints and resources. Many principals made firm dates
to visit the operations of their peers. All sought the advice of the
Business Partners” who had been made an integral part of the con
ference.
As with the others, my personal benefit went far beyond the ex
hilarating learning experience; orders for my Black Inventors book-
an invitation to write for the nation’s largest publisher of educa
tional magazines-invitations to lecture on African-American con
tributions to mathematics and technology. The conference did in
deed “ provide a forum for sharing techniques and strategies for
reaching and teaching our children.” (Ron Herndon).
Deadline« f<x ell submitted materiel«
Article« Monday 5 p m
P
Ads Tuesday 5 p m
TIM P o -ll.nd O b .. r » .. » . ic o n .. . I r w t t « . .u b m i.v o n ,
M .n u .c r.p l. .n d pho.oq-.phs «hould b . 'tM rty
labeled and will be returned if accompanied by a «elf addressed envelope
Subscription«
St 5 00 per year in the Tri-County area
T h . PORTLAND OBSERVER - O -^ o n , o ld « .
Pubi,c h o n - I . . mPR-bP- o- T h . N .h o n .l
N . - , p . p . - . . . o c , .« o n - Eoundpd ,n IM S T h . O - . ,o n N . - . p . p . r P u b b .h .-. . . . « , . 1 , 0 « . " d Thp M .l» n .l
Ad»Prtt«<"P Rpprpppnlpllvp A'pp'pi'pp'pd PublMIMt» inc
1 » »V
"* M
•> -,
* •
EDITORIAL /
To hell& back....
«
Alfred L. Henderson Publisher
• VS*»
II* « « *
«► » •
• s *
Prison VS. Marian Reid
was asked to visit Sister Marian Reid,
_ an Inmate at the Maryland Correction
al Institution for Women at Jessup, Md.
want you to know, and believe me
when I say so; the situation of Incarce
rated Afrikan Women in the State of
Maryland would surprise you. I had my
contact in New York City, check out
several Women prisons on the east
coast and in the South. (We qompared
notes), it’s time to correct the awareness
gap that exists in relation to the situa
tion of Afrikan women in Amerikan pri
sons. Many Sisters/Brothers were under
the impression that women’s prisons
are relatively “ pleasant” places and that
any problems they may have are trivial
when compared to those of incarcerated
by Jamil Cherovee
men. I’m inclined to believe, Afrikan
women have been so uncommunicative, struck dumb by shock I sup
pose, that I can’t blame anyone for assuming that the “ difficulties” they
experience are not threatening to life and dignity, as those experienced
by their male counterparts. We will attempt to set the record straight
and hopefully other Afrikan women in prisons will join us — en mass.
Black women experience just as much violence as men, but most
of it is psychological /emotional, as even the prison officials are not able
to dismiss regular beatings of women ... at this time. Actual physical
violence is an omnipresent underlying threat. Our sisters behind bars do
get their share of physical violence also, though it is a last resort.
Women here were given a lot of “ privileges" such as the right to wear
their own clothing, purchase their own T.V., radio, tape; receive food
from home, etc., that serves to divert attention from the FACT that their
rights are being violated hourly. A Sister informed me, one of the
warden’s favorite tactics is to strip a woman of her rights when she
enters the institution, then force her to earn them back metamorphosiz-
ed into privileges (as if they were privileges). So thorough-going are the
warden’s various psychological stratagems many women lose sight of
the fact that these alleged privileges are nothing but stolen rights being
returned. The other so-called privileges serve as reinforcement of the
socially induced tendency of women to accommodate themselves to
blatant injustices rather than strive aggressively and implacably to
eradicate the conditions, conditions under which these injustices
flourish.
I
Perspectives
has to be strengthend—and that
success requires the combined
efforts of ALL our organizations.
Here, in Portland, there is a vital
need for this activity, and it is my
hope that the models presented
will prove to be a catalyst.
Certainly, there are “ some”
local examples of Black initiative
in land development and improve
ment. Not too long ago a physi
cian
and partners built several
by Professor McKinley Burt
apartment complexes in North
east. When I was teaching at
Portland State University the
school hosted a westcoast sem
inar, “ Forming Local Economic
Development Corporations.” I at
Part IV, Conclusion
tended the conference, along
with Ron Herndon—but while
“ my” manual on "Legal and
Finacial Guidelines” remains on
et me close this series by
the
shelf, Mr. Herndon put the
presenting some additional
priceless
information to work,
models-programs that could have
and
today
we have the NORTH
relevance to our own city. For in
EAST
COMMUNITY
DEVELOP
stance, when I cited the large-
MENT
CORPORATION.
scale efforts of the National
This thriving organization has
Council of Negro Women In pro
made
very important contribu
moting Family Reunions and
tions
to
our neighborhoods, and
Cooperative Effort, I could have
to
our
"Innercity
Economy” in
mentioned the outstanding con
general.
These
have
included Ap
tributions of other Black women’s
prenticeship
Training
in the
organizations.
Building
Trades,
the
Construc
In Cleveland, the Alpha Kappa
tion of New Housing and the Im
Alpha sorority not only runs a Job
provement of Existing Stock, the
Corp program but, in 1984, paid
Farmers Market, and the Nike
cash for a 1.8 million head
Factory O utlet Store, which
quarters building DESIGNED
shares
profits for future com
AND CONSTRUCTED BY BLACK
munity
development. Isn’t it
ARCHITECTS. Another strong
amazing
how much community
participant in the drive to stablize
wealth
a
stong, motivating in
the quality of life in Black
dividual
can
accomplish with the
neighborhoods has been the
c
o
o
p
e
ra
tio
n
o f c o m m ite d
Delta Sigma Theta sorority. The
citzens?
The
problem
is, we need
Camden, New Jersey chapter has
a
full-score
more.
Where
are you?
in a u g u ra te d
th e
n a tio n a l
Especially that group of university
o r g a n iz a tio n ’ s
AD O PT-A-
graduates my generation financ
BU S IN E S S -P R O G R A M
by
ed; pay back time, boys arid girls!
patronizing and “ publicizing" a
There you have it! I am sure
Black owned flowershop.
that
even before you read the
I will not neglect the “ brothers”
distressing
econom ic report,
in these citations of critical con
“
One
Third
Of
A Nation” , you
tributions in this econmic area.
knew that Blacks were in deep
The Alpha Phi Alpha chapter in St.
trouble. And now you know as
Louis “ runs investment clubs for
well that we are going to survive-
high school students, and admin
but as I have said in this column
isters a public housing project.”
before, "Lets get AHEAD OF THE
There are many others, of course,
GAME!”
like the Omega Psi Phi graduate
chapter in Philedelphia with its
important programs. Collectively,
these endeavors represent an in
PORTLAND OBSERVER
creasing awareness (of the fact)
"The Eyes and Ears of the Community"
that if URBAN LAND is to be re
288-0033
tained by Blacks, then, the
economy of the neighborhoods
Blacks, Land
And Family
L
N»w T o r t
V
«
•
, » •
«vi « ♦.
4*
rv « »■».• ¡ir. a»
'S .
* * * * *
Yes they have televisions, but they do not have up-dated relevant
legal resources. Carrying wardens to court is no guarantee that they will
stop indulging in their various cruelties, so you can imagine the u
wardens nave when even the possibility of hav.ng to explain/,ust.ly
their modus operandl is
J
.
OPINION
M-jhlM
ison „ she „ independent-
o 7 S X V s " .o ^
others to “ listen” to her — he keeps her in quarantine, even after she has
been cleared by the medical department, while he "plots his strategy
to totally debilitate her and reduce her to a passive, vegetative zero. He
will “ summon” otner inmates who profess to "know the woman and
dangle a few “ rewards” under their noses in payment for their alleged
insights. In most cases the accused has only a "speaking” acquaint
ance with these pawns, but they are so hungry for the “ rewards eager
for attention, and overwhelmed by the presence of god (the Warden) that
they will create information negative enough to please him and serve
his purpose. The next move if she wasn’t out on bail, is to contact the
city or county jail where she awaited trial to get their "observations and
also to send for a “ base file” if she has been incarcerated previously.
Once he has amassed all the “ facts” he can procure, he calls his
lackey "Black” and his right-hand euro-Amerikan police and proceeds to
design a “ program” that is restricted and tailored so as to cause the
woman to experience the utmost psychological pressure and emotional
anxiety. And she WILL function under these restrictions until HE
decides her behavior warrants the return to her "rights. ANY TYPE of
protest on her part is used to justify further punitive measures. This
whole behavior modification process proceeds WITHOUT explanation
to the women who are subjected to it. Indeed, the confusion generated
by not knowing “ why” is itself used as a weapon to further weaken the
women psychologically.
If the woman being so subjected is doing short time (6 months to
a year) she will NEVER have her rights returned. If it’s longer, then after
six months or so, he, after reading the observation reports of her
behavior, will decide if she has earned her rights. If the woman has too
much “ whatever” to jump through hoops (if she refuses to act the way
he wants her to act) she will be placed on lock in one of his solitary con
finement areas until she becomes more of his conception of a
woman — and less of her own. And people, I do mean you will remain in
solitary as long as it takes to break your will. I talked with a sister who
had been in solitary seventeen (17) months, sometimes without water to
drink — no showers, no exercise, no comissary “ privileges," not even
clothing ... sitting on a thin mattress on a concrete floor BECAUSE SHE
COULD NOT BE RECREATED. She absolutely refused to allow that
animalistic creature to re-arrange, distort and manipulate elements of
her mind, personality and character, simply because of his sick
preconceptions.
The Sister said, “ some days this “ stim uli” was overpowering
enough to cause her to consider “ accommodating” this madness... but
something her mother used to say checked that impulse:” “ You may
give out — but you will not give in !” We had the Sister transferred back
to the city jail, for fear of her life. She should be released by this writing.
I would like to urge our readers not to concentrate on one or two
individuals to much. They are representatives of evil, no doubt, but they
are not the evil itself. They need to be criticized, for sure, but it is much
more important that we "critize” and eliminate the system that creates
and sustains them.
CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL
by Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.
The Iranian Tragedy
he senseless destruction of an Iranian passenger airliner off the
coast of Iran by the United States Navy is another tragic example of
the failure of U.S. foreign policy in the Persian Gulf. President Reagan
continues to assert that “ the only U.S. interest in the Persian Gulf is
peace.” Yet, the increased military presence of the United States in this
region has only added fuel to the fire of the war between Iran and Iraq.
The killing of 290 innocent civilians, many of them children, who
were passengers on the Iranian aircraft does not appear to be enough to
get the Reagan Administration to change its posture and involvement in
this war. A nation cannot keep the peace by making war.
We remember in 1983 when the Soviet Union mistakenly shot
down a Korean passenger airliner killing 269 civilians. President Reagan
was quick to describe the Soviet Union as “ an evil empire.” Referring to
the Korean airline tragedy, Reagan stated “ What can we think of a
regime that so badly trumpets its vision of peace and global dis
armaments and yet so callously and quickly commits a terrorist act to
sacrifice the lives of innocent human beings?”
If the Reagan presidency has a distinguishing characteristic it Is
its ability to point a blistering critical finger everywhere except at the
White House.
The first sentence of Mr. Reagan’s statement concerning the
Iranian airliner was “ I am saddened to report that it appears that in a
proper defensive action the USS Vincennes this morning in the Persian
Gulf, an Iranian airliner was shot down over the Strait of Harmuz.” The
key phrase “ a proper defensive action” exposes the President’s trigger-
happy, shoot-first and think-later foreign policy.
Jesse Jackson was correct when he stated that this unnecessary
tragedy was an example of "guided missiles and a misguided foreign
policy.” A staff report of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
recently warned; “ There is mounting evidence that shipping in the Gulf
is less safe now than before the U.S. naval buildup began and chances
for mishaps are high.” Senator Brock Adams of Washington told the
New York Times that “ We have no strategy in the G u lf... what we have is
a prescription for disaster.”
,
The quest for peace anywhere in the world must be done within
the context of securing justice and freedom. Rather than making the
priority just to get oil out of the Persian Gulf at all costs, the priority of
the United States should be to insure that justice and self-determination
be guaranteed to all the nations of the region. The F-14 fighter jet that
the U.S. Navy says it thought was attacking the USS Vincennes is an
airplane that the Iranian Airforce originally got from the United States. If
the United States continues to spread weapons of mass destruction all
over the world, then sooner or later, some of these weapons will surely
be used against the United States.
Every single human life is precious. The actions of the United
States in the wake of the Iranian airline crisis exhibit more concern for
protecting the image and the position of the U.S. military’s presence in
the Persian Gulf than taking appropriate measures to prevent future
tragedies from occurring.
If peace is to come to this region the United States must go
beyond admitting to “ an understandable mistake." All U.S. military
presence should be withdrawn from this region except those forces that
would be a part of a United Nations peace keeping force. Only then will
peace have a chance in the Persian Gulf.
T