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Page 2, Portland Observer, July 20, 1988
E s ta b lis h e d >n 1970
Gary Ann Garnett
Nyewusi Askari
News Editor/Staft Writer
Joyce Washington
Mattie Ann Callier-Spears
Religion Editor
Arthur Bradford
Danny Bell
Staff Photographer/Reporter
Sales Representative
Richard Medina
Arnold Pitre
Photo-Composition
Sales Representative
Lonnie Wells
Ruby Reuben
Sales Representative
Circulation Manager
Rosemarie Davis
B. Gayle Jackson
Comptroller
Sales Representative
EDITORIALCOMMENTARY
Victory...
state chairman of the U.S.
Commission on Civil Rights
whose suitability for the office
was challenged by the Anti-Defa­
mation League for favorably re­
viewing an anti-Semitic and racist
book has resigned his post, the
¡League has learned.
The announcement of the de­
parture of Dr. Ralph Scott, chair-
iman of the Iowa State Advisory
¡Committee to the Civil Rights
Commission, came in a letter
¡(dated July 5) to Jeffrey P. Sinen-
sky, director of ADL’s Civil Rights
Division, from Murray Friedman,
acting chairman of the Commis­
sion.
Mr. Sinensky had told the
Commission in early May that Dr.
Scott was unsuited for the post
because of his “ insensitivity” to
racial and religious minorities. In
his review of “ The Dispossessed
Majority,” a 584-page book writ­
ten under the pseudonym of W il­
mot Robertson, Dr. Scott called
the volume “ valuable” because it
throws a “ bright, clear light on
facts which our politicians have
kicked into dark corners. For
those ‘Majority’ Americans who
seek to understand their cultural
heritage, this book is a family
must."
“ The Dispossessed Majority”
charges that the United States
has degenerated over time be­
cause its Northern European ma­
jority has been displaced by such
‘inferior” peoples as Blacks,
Hispanics, Jews and persons of
Mediterranean origin.
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The book vilifies Jews as hav-
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ing such traits as “ intrusiveness
disputatiousness and haggling”
and alleges that they are dispro-,
portionately represented in the
“ inner circles” of the American
government. In discussing the
Jewish “ problem,” the book de­
clares that “ separation is ob­
viously part of the solution.”
The book also asserts that the
Northern European race “ has
managed to soar a little higher
above the animal kingdom than
the other divisions of mankind.”
The author also claims that “ the
more Negroes are helped ... the
more they progress, the more
America as a nation seems to
retrogress."
In his letter to the League, Mr.
Friedman thanked ADL for its dis­
closures about Dr. Scott and said
he concurred with the agency’s
assessment that Scott” s "en­
thusiastic review of a bigoted
book is inconsistent with the atti­
tudes and role of a civil rights
official.”
Expressing his gratification
that Dr. Scott has resigned, Mr.
Sinensky said the continued pres­
ence in an important civil rights
post of a person who defends
racist views is “ an affront to
those working to advance thp
cause of civil rights in this coun­
try.”
Mr. Sinensky pointed out that
the “ author” of “The Dispossess­
ed Majority,” Wilmot Robertson,
is the pen-name of “ a Southern-
based propagandist who also
publishes Instauration, an equally
r a c is t
and
a n ti- S e m itic
magazine.”
Teacher shortage
Early results from an ongoing NEA (National Education Association)
survey indicate that shortages of qualified teachers will undermine the qua­
lity of education offered next year by the nation's public elementary and
I secondary schools.
. ,
"T h e NEA survey has so far collected data from 128 of the nation s 190
largest school districts-those with enrollments of 25,000 or more and the
largest districts in 10 small states (Delaware, Idaho, Maine. Montana No
Dakota, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont and W yo­
ming). These school districts together represent just over a fifth of the
39.8 million U.S. public school students and over a quarter of the nation s
I teachers •
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For some large school districts, the NEA data show, the search for
qualified teachers will be more difficult this year than last. Results already
reveal 34,880 unfilled positions for the '87 ’88 school year, a significant
increase above the 32,000 vacancies reported at this time last year. An
more vacancies are expected to be revealed before the NEA survey is com-
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^ N e a r l y one-fifth (19 percent) of the 128 school districts say they have
more teaching vacancies for fall 1987 than fall 1986. Half of these vacancies
are at the elementary level, and half at the secondary school level.
In the secondary schools, the most acute shortage of teachers is in
bilingual education, where about 84 percent of all positions will be vacant
Almost half- 4 4 p e rce n t-o f openings in special education are vacan ,
while 34.5 percent of teacher positions in science and 31.1 percent in math
P ^ h T e s tim a te c H /a c a n c y rate overall-the ratio of reported vacancies to
total full time positions-appears to be about 7 percent, according to the
NEA survey data collected so far, with averages higher in the Southeast,1
Mid-Atlantic, and Western regions of the country. Government projections
that the national teacher shortage will increase fourfold by 1992 assume an
¡annual vacancy rate of 6 percent per year.
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t h . P O R TIA M O OBSERVER -
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M .w T o t.
in the face was one of a man in a grass dress with rings around his
ankles, a spear in his hand, dancing around a boiling pot with a
caucasoid man in it. The written descriptions of the Afrikan, in the main,
were equally as inaccurate. For centuries this was the stereotype of the
Afrikan.
Along with this situation came es­
calation of Black Flight’ of
professionals and other stable
elements of the community to the
Missouri side of the river. Like an
early, isolationist America which
believed that the Atlantic Ocean
would isolate them from ‘At Risk’
European involvements, the St.
Louis Black elite believed that the
mighty Mississippi River would
somehow ‘protect’ them from
by Professor McKinley Burt
their “ wrong-doing” brethern. It
didn’t. There is no so-called ‘es­
cape’. We are one people.
In 1948, I visited relatives in
Chicago, both in the Altgeld
Housing Project, and in a new ‘up­
ward m obility’, Black-sponsored
by Professor McKinley Burt
development near Northwestern
University. The same process was
ave we made it according to
in motion. In 1969 I visited the
Ebony Magazine standards? (then) nationally acclaimed 95%
Got the right scotch on the bar —
Black Windsor Hills Elementary
the right car in the garage? (Have
School in Los Angeles. Parents
you got a garage?). Are you send­
Magazine described the miracle:
ing your daughter to the right
“ Out of 400 elementary schools,
Black school’ in the South? Did
Black Windsor Hills' scores first
you escape from the inner-North-
in MATHEMATICS and second in
east area, and now reside in a
R E A D IN G .”
A very e a rly
‘safe’, affluent neighborhood? To­
EXCELLENCE!
day's scary urban scenario should
What this periodical did not
tell you that you are still AT RISK!
make clear was that these were
By the end of the 1930's, East
the children of the town's fastest-
Saint Louis, Illinois was a target
growing Black elite; along with
of derision for the Black ‘elite’
the school itself, all were comfort­
and professionals of Saint Louis,
ably housed in plush Baldwin
Missouri where I attended high
Hills of swimming pools and ten­
school across the river. Football
nis courts. Earlier the school was
games between the segregated
in the lowest percentile, but up-
Black schools of the two cities
w ardly-m obile parents — eng i­
provided a working definition of
neers, scientists, doctors, law­
the term “ mayhem" as the spec­
yers and administrators — had
tators determined the ‘real’ win­
stormed the school adminstra-
ner; quite like today's British soc­
tion, literally. Winning their battle
cer matches. Who always won the
with lawsuits, injunctions and as­
bloody battles? Why, the children
saults on both the School Board
of the so-called "Black Under­
and the Teacher's Unions, they
class” of this crime-ridden sister
got rid of incompetent teachers,
city across the river from St.
updated the texts, curriculum,
Louis — and they had already
and science equipment. Also
formed the nucleus of today's
bringing in 'Industry, they got
more sophisticated gangs and
EXCELLENCE in a hurry.
I think you know what I’m going
drug networks. And, “ Why John­
to say next. That’s right, it all soon
ny Can’t Read" could have been
deteriorated as the "underclass"
written right then and there by
invaded. They too wanted Excel­
that Catholic priest in Chicago.
lence. There is a lesson here for
After World War II a long-term
Portland’s "upwardly m obile"
economic decline brought high
Blacks. You are AT RISK! Why!
unemployment and rapid deter­
■ Continued Next Week
ioration of the housing stock.
i
W e Are All
‘At Risk’
H
... ........................
« * ä.V * * t f »
Repairing
The
Safety
Net
Perspectives
■?.v
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O P IN IO N
This description persisted until at a point, under the pressure of
oncerning the ‘Observer’s’ Com­
world travel and improved communication facilities, we began to realize
mentary: 7/13/88. While news­
that our view of Afrika and the Afrikan was a faulty one. At this point we
papers, magazines, television and radio
began to realize the military and economic importance of Afrika, but we
do inform and entertain, they first and
had no background within which to straighten out our thinking. What
foremost shape and collectivize an au­
had really happened was that those colonial powers who benefited by
dience. I’m inclined to believe, Mess­
the lack of knowledge of what was really in Afrika, like the owners of the
ages, Attitudes, Emotions, Information,
Belgium Congo and the other areas of tremendous natural resources,
Lies and Distortions of all kinds
had found it desirable to blackout the real truth about those areas and
permeate our consciousness — and big
their inhabitants so that they might continue to exploit without
stakes are involved. For, to control the
competition.
consciousness of a people is to control
a significant element of their political
The vehicle used to create and maintain this false impression was
destinies. The Portland Observer provide
the European and Amerikan press. Meanwhile the colonial powers pro­
an educational forum for the expression
duced their own “ information services,” which were widely distributed
of the ideologies and attitudes of the
and not only fantastically deceptive, but were downright misleading.
Sisters and Brothers in the community.
This left us tremendously disadvantaged in dealing with the problems
of an emerging Afrika and Afrikans, which we suddenly found a corn
Describing the function of the Amerikan Reporter, Douglas Cater,
pelling necessity to cope with. So inadequately prepared were we and
writing in his book ‘The Fourth Branch of Government’ (1959) said, “ The
so inept were our approaches that Julius Nyerere, one of the East
reporter is the recorder of government but he is also a participant. He
Afrikan indigenous leaders said of us: "You have missed the political
operates in a system in which power is divided. He as much as anyone,
bus."
and more than a great many, helps to shape the course of government.
Cater in his book refers to the press as an agent of disorder and
He is the indispersable broker and middle man among the sub­
confusion. In the Congo I saw the Amerikan press as an “ agent of
governments of Washington. He can choose from the myriad events
disorder and confusion." For example, it was the Amerikan press that
that see beneath the surface of government, which to describe, which
was most vehement in its denunciation of President Kasavubu for sign­
to ignore. He can illumine policy and notably assist in giving it sharp­
ing the “ conciliation agreement" with his Prime Minister Lumumba, an
ness and clarity; just as easily, he can prematurely expose policy and, as
agreement which Kasavubu under pressure .ubsequently repudiated. I
with an undeveloped film, cause its destruction. At his worst, operating
saw and heard members of the Amerikan press almost plaintively say,
with arbitrary and faulty standards, he can be an agent of disotfer’^and
referring to Kasavubu, “Why did he do it — when he had Lumumba right
confusion. At his best, he can exert a creative influence on Washington
where he wanted him?” In addition to their writing, Amerikan reporters
politics.”
in Afrika use their personal influence with leaders there to foster
In spite of this great vehicle (the press) at our command, we still
policies they and their government wish followed. They know that a
were inadequately prepared, because of a faulty background, to cope
“ good or bad press” can make or break an Afrikan leader.
with the challenge of Afrika. Twenty years ago Afrika was a great yawn­
I believe, a fairer relationship between the caucasoid owned
ing gap in Amerika’s knowledge of the world. However, preceding this
media and the Black community will come to pass only if the Black
great gap there had been carried on since the early days of the slave
community is prepared to make them come to pass by political means.
trade a campaign of falsification of the true situation in Afrika. For
ALL I want you to understand is that the only way we w ill affect the
example, geographies and history books consistently depicted the
caucasoid media significantly is the same way in which we w ill bring
Afrikan in an unfavorable light in comparison with the other men of the
about any social change in our nation-through movement, political,
world. If you saw a picture of a Frenchman he was a well-dressed, well-
social movement of masses of people banded together and determined
demeaanored person. The same was true of a Britisher, or any other
to be free.
European. However, the picture of the Afrikan that constantly stared you
,1
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Business Manager
Sales/Marketmg Director
♦•*■***
*
News Media Must Be Held Accountable
ERYER
Leon Harris/Gen Mgr
I > • « • «»»••«
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EDITORIAL
OREGON'S OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN PUBLICATION
Alfred L. Henderson/Pubiisher
i
/
•*1
by John E. Jacob
ne of the prime tasks of the next president will be to repair the
safety net — the social programs that have been drilled full of
holes over the past eight years.
Traditional wisdom says that the damage done the safety net pro­
grams is the fault of Washington alone. That’s largely true, but the
states bear a heavy responsibility, too.
Means-tested programs are largely financed by the federal
government, but run by the states. The most familiar safety net program,
Aid To Families With Dependent Children, is one such program.
According to a recent analysis of safety net programs by the
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, in 32 states the maximum cash
benefit under AFDC for a family of three without other income is less
than half of the poverty line. Obviously such benefit levels are nowhere
near what is necessary to support a minimal standard of life.
The poverty line itself is an artificial construct, originally designed
to determine the absolute minimum a family needs to feed itself in a
short-term emergency period. But it’s become a full-year figure based
on a formula that takes no account of rising food and rent costs, or of
the need for income necessary to get by longer-term.
The study also found that only a little more than half of the states
permit AFDC benefits for families where the father is present but
unemployed. And it also found the only about half the states supple­
ment the basic minimum federal benefits available to the aged, blind
and disabled poor through the Supplemental Security Income Program.
Unemployment insurance is another key safety net program that's
declined. A decade ago over forty percent of the jobless received state
unemployment benefits. Last year, just over thirty percent did.
The study also found that only ten states, including the District of
Columbia, offered property tax relief to poor people who are neither
disabled nor elderly.
And most shocking of all, a majority of states imposed income tax
on families whose incomes are below the poverty line.
Taxing the small incomes of people in poverty who barely have
enough to pay the rent and buy enough food to sustain life is
unconscionable.
We’ve also seen tightened eligibility requirements that have
shoved people off the food stamp and Medicaid rolls, and reduced
benefits. That was done by the federal government, but instead of filling
the gaps, most states appear to have gone along with the policy of
squeezing the poor.
The Center's study shows that it’s not just southern states or
relatively low-income states that have tightened the screws on the poor,
but many that rank in the top half of states in such measures as per
capita income.
Such misguided policies on the national and state levels have
deepened the social problems facing the nation and widened the gap
between the poor and the affluent.
Add to this the fact that key opportunity programs such as Head
Start and Job Corps have been cut drastically, and you see the
emergence of a callous policy that helps sustain a large underclass with
little hope for advancement.
Such socially destructive policies have to be reversed, and the
candidates have to be pinned down on how they intend to restore the
safety net a decent society places beneath all of its citizens.
O