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'*’ «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 -, * • 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