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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 1988)
Page 2, Portland Observer, August 17, 1988 PORRA?® OREGON'S OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN PUBLICATION Established In ,970 Leon Harris/Gen Mgr. Alfred L. Henderson/Pubiisher Nyewusi Askari Gary Ann Garnett Business Manager News Edilor/Stalf Writer Joyce Washington Mattie Ann Callier-Spears Religion Editor Sales/M arketing Director Richard Medina Danny Bell Photo-Composition Sales Representative Lonnie Wells Ruby Reuben Sales Representative Circulation Manager Rosemarie Davis B. Gayle Jackson Comptroller Sales Representative PORTLAND OBSERVER is published weekly by Exie Publishing Company. Inc 525 N E Killingsworth St • Portland Oregon 97211 PO Box 3137 • Portland, Oregon 97208 Phone Numoers: (bud, zbh uujj (Office) (503) 288-1756 (Classified/Display) Deadlines for all submitted materials: Articles: Monday. 5 p.m.; Ads: Tuesday. 5 p.m. The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions Manuscripts and photographs should be clearly labeled and will ba returned il accompanied by a salt-addressed envelope Subscriptions $20.00 per veer in the Tri-County aree The PORTLAND OBSERVER — Oregon's oldest African-American Publication — is a member of The National Newspaper Association — Founded in 1885, The Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association, and The National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc., New York. Guest Editorial Parren Mitchell, Chairman Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense and Education Fund w * ** <,• z¿ r. - :< w .* 'X .<u*i M , ■» 4 £ . - r 7 ‘ . *, »**<• ’•¿ » '» • .Y •. > ÿ R Qï •'.-.»»;< • «?>• ’***■, . . \ <*• »4 Y • 'A* /f 7 k » * 5 .o» /«?/: < ■.* K -XY* ’ •<V'Z * • z «-fc? i •« • £-. -'4.S? »- <3 'v .- M \ «'■»* C « I . •V - .. ÿ iît’ ç EDITORIAL / RVER e knew it was just a matter the Court is deliberating about of time. We didn’t think it the constitutionality of minority would happen so quickly. But it business set-asides at the local has. Yet another legal challenge levels Minority entrepreneurs in Rich to minority business programs mond face their biggest chal has reached the Supreme Court. lenge ever — the potential loss of This time, it’s the Michigan their right to compete for a 30% Road Builders Association that is share of the $124 million dollars trying to eliminate minority busi in city contracts, valued annually ness opportunity programs from at some 37.2 million dollars! the face of the earth. Across the country, there are in We cannot allow the right of excess of 160 minority business minorities to compete fairly in the opportunity programs valued in American marketplace to be the billions of dollars that have taken away without a fight. Soon, the U.S. Supreme Court been placed in severe jeopardy by w ill consider hearing arguments these two cases. The Minority Business Enter in the case of William G. Milliken, prise Legal Defense and Educa et al. v. Michigan Road Builders tion Fund is fully prepared to Association. harness whatever resources are This is a case where an inde necessary to win these two cases pendent study revealed unfound and similar cases poised to go to ed stereotypes and negative at the Supreme Court. titudes on the part of Michigan’s It is absolutely imperative that procurement officials towards we fight discrimination against minority contractors. minorities in business as vigor This is a case where, in a state ously as we have fought for elim i with a 14 percent minority popula nation of other forms of discrim i tion, minorities received less than nation in housing, employment, one percent of state contract and education. awards over a five-year period. Economic parity is the final This is a case where the State phase of the civil rights struggle. of Michigan set a modest “ good Without full integration into the aith” goal to try and award one American marketplace, victims of percent of its contract dollars to racial discrimination will continue minorities, and failed to meet that to be unable to purchase decent goal! housing; they will continue to be This is a case where the state disproportionately unemployed; government found the only re maining viable remedy to be a they will continue to be unable to gradually phased-in 7 percent set- afford the rising costs of higher aside goal for minority owned education. That is why this struggle is one businesses and a 5 percent set- in which we cannot compromise. aside goal for women-owned We've got to give our all to ensure businesses. This is a case where, incred that civil rights gained thus far are ulously, the Sixth Circuit Court of not rendered illusory by the rav Appeals reversed the factual fin ages of economic discrimination. We have already begun to coor dings of a federal district court, dinate other advocacy groups and and found this compelling evid legal organizations to assist us in ence to be "not probative” of presenting the Supreme Court discrimination. with the fullest possible range of This is a case where a conser arguments on behalf of minority vative appellate court has gone so far as to deny the ability of a state business interests. We have been there in the past, to admit that it has discriminated and we will continue to be there against minority contractors and in the future — with your support vendors! We were there most recently in It's no surprise that having Tennessee Asphalt Co. v. Farris seen no discrimination, the Sixth where we successfully defended Circuit Court of Appeals saw no the constitutionality of the 10% justification for Michigan’s minor goal for disadvantaged busi ity business program, and struck nesses in federal highway con it down. struction contracts — a program If the courts are unwilling to see discrimination that stares us worth billions of dollars to minori in the face, the only possible out ty businesses. We were there in Stone v. Dole, come is consistent rejection of af again successfully defending the firmative action remedies. 10% goal for disadvantaged busi We cannot, must not, and will nesses contained in the Surface not permit this kind of judicial Transportation Assistance Act hocus-pocus to go unchallenged. As a result of our intervention, You and I must do all that we can to convince the Supreme Court Judge Fox of the Federal District that racial discrimination in the Court of North Carolina issued a marketplace is real, and deadly. It final decision in Carpenter v. Dole upholding the constitutionality of must be remedied. The livelihood of thousands of this federal program as applied in minority businesses rests in the North Carolina. This Michigan case represents balance. so much to so many. Together we Already the U.S. Supreme can guarantee that our minority Court is hearing our arguments in businesses will get their chance the case of Richmond v. J.A. to participate in the American Croson. In this important case, dream. “ The Other Side OPINION Along the Color Line 5 5 board up our properties and have them condemned and a few ’well- healed’ opportunists swoop up the property and displace senior citizens and long-time residents by changing the zoning to com mercial and industrial and thereby causing the tax structure in the community to become higher which makes it prohibitive for many middle income persons to hold onto their property. One has only to look at the trend nationally of "urban removal” and see the displacement of Black people who happen to live on land that is valuable and which is easily ac cessible to all of the major ¡by Harold C. Williams amenities that a city provides. So if the main agenda is to take or the last three weeks, Northeast Portland has re inner-Northeast Portland out of ceived a great deal of attention the hands of some long-time from the news media. Some posi Black residents, then lets make that clear and stop castrating tive, however, I believe the intent young Black men by painting has been to inform the broader them as hoodlums, dopeheads, community. But in that process, a and anything else that one can negative picture has been pres think of that is negative. ented ever so subtly that all of our There are problems, many prob youth, in particular the young lems, that young Black men have Black men, are either on drugs, to face such as unemployment, pushing drugs, or a part ot some higher education opportunities. gang. This perception is very Drugs are a problem as well and disturbing. For 85% or more of we must not ignore it. Let’s put Black young men are hard work drugs and gangs in their proper ing, committed to a positive perspective, one problem among future, and have pride in them selves. Why then does 15% or many, but it must not overshadow less, who present a negative pic the hopes and dreams of the ma ture, become the image that is jority of the beautiful young Black painted of all young Black men in men in our community. For the real issue is not gangs and drugs, our community? Let’s look deeper at what is go but the reclaiming of the land in ing on in our community. The Northeast Portland by a few op gang issue is real and most be portunists. Must we stand aside dealt with. Drugs is a real issue and allow the dream and the that must be dealt with, but the hopes of future for our young Black men be destroyed because real agenda is to use the gangs a few opportunists have another and drugs to disfranchise the low agenda in mind at the expense of and middle income persons in our our most valuable resource: the community by claiming that tne young, the strong, beautiful Black total community is unsafe, there by giving some the reason to men F Perspectives Washing Dirty Linen In Public convenience, than to make ex pensive adjustments during con struction. An idea began to gel and, leaf ing through the ‘New Building Permits’ section ot The Daily Journal of Commerce, it became quite clear that one could in troduce the in-house laundromat concept BEFORE construction began. I approached my mech anic neighbor with the idea and, with a carefully designed presen by Professor McKinley Burt tation package, made the rounds promised to introduce another of prospects with very favorable innovative style of enterprise, results: "Industrial Cleaning Ser so here is one with a distinctive vices will provide you with a flair in the application of technol COMPLETE TURNKEY PACKAGE ogy to the rather ordinary. We on y o u r s ite -c o in o p e ra te d preface by pointing out that most washers and dryers, boiler, and successful businesses are laun consumer amenities.” Note that ched by those with related on-the- OUR-ON-THE-JOB EXPERIENCE job experience. permitted accurate pricing of all In 1958, I was the Inventory elements from equipment to tak Control Accountant for what was ing back a two-year maintenance then the largest Mail Order Dis contract count House on the West Coast. After supervising 14 people in This mode of enterprise should purchasing and shipping for sev prove an excellent model for any eral years, I could quote from reader wishing to extend this ap m em ory the m a n u fa ctu re r's proach to other fields. The only prices on all major brands of ap state-up expenses were a license, pliances, jewelry, furs, sporting insurance, a truck and a good set goods, silverware, clothing, cam of maintenance tools, everything eras and the like. Naturally, I fre else was contracted out: The quently speculated. "How can Ajax Boiler Company and Central can I use this experience in MY Plumbers' for installation, Bank of OWN ENTERPRISE?" America financing of the contract At the time my neighbor was secured from the owners — which laid off from his job as a refrig permitted the equipment pur eration mechanic, taking tempor chases from the distributors ary e m p lo y m e n t in LA U N without a cash outlay. The office DROMAT REPAIR The same was in my den, and the workshop week I noticed that a large apart in my neighbors basement ment complex under construction We made six successful instal nearby was undergoing a major lations before being crowded out alteration — to allow for the inclu by the 'big boys.’ However our sion of a LAUNDROMAT IN THE total investment was less than BASEMENT. Obviously, it would the cost of a good USED have been better to have AN CADILLAC! TICIPATED this money-making Dr. Manning Marable •Í 1980, and 1984, as well as currertt he American political system opinion polls among segments of is unique in that it gives the the voting age population. Wfe electorate “ selections without also know, conversely, that at choices.” The Republican conven least three-quarters ot all Born- tion in New Orleans was a dreary Again Christian evangelicals will event, entertaining only in the go for Bush; that 70 percent of all sense that it showed that thou voters earning over $100,000 an sands of people can dwell in polit nually will support the Republican ical unreality, espousing dog national ticket; and that a sub matic and dangerous slogans stantial majority of homeowners rather than serious issues, march and property owners will endorse ing lock-step into the abyss of Bush. In effect, these voters are fear, war and intolerance. The not selecting one candidate over Democrats are only superior due another. They are voting their to the presence of progressive social class interests as best as forces within its ranks, but even they can perceive them, within the Rainbow’s stunning victories the limited and contradictory last spring do not negate the in framework of America’s electoral tellectual and political poverty of system. the bulk of the Democratic Party’s Bush and Dukakis are oppo centrist and rightwing leaders. nents, only in that the victory of When the two parties compete, one will mean political oblivion personalities rather than issues for the other. But beyond person generally dominate. Seldom is the ality battles resides the heart of average voter given an opportune politics, the question of power. ty to make a viable choice be And whether Bush or Dukakis win tween candidates who symbolize this coming November, the issue fundam entally d istin ct policy of empowering the poor, minor alternatives. ities, working women, the un A good example of this elec employed and others who experi toral dilemma is the current ence racism, economic oppres presidential contest. Michael sion and discrimination is not on Dukakis and George Bush have the national agenda. had very different political careers Indeed, there are as many and experiences in public life similarities between the major Dukakis is a three-term governor parties’ candidates as there are of an eastern state, who has had differences. Both endorse Rea considerable administrative expe gan's foreign policy of “ neo- rience. Bush is a former Con d e te n te ” w ith the Soviets, gressm an, am bassador, CIA although Bush has been forced head, etc., a political chameleon for tactical reasons to temporarily whose identification with moder shelve his real beliefs on this ate Republicanism declined as question. Both favor an East- his narrow ambitions for higher West, confrontational approach office soared. Dukakis’s record to international policy, rather than on civil rights does not equal that espousing a North-South agenda of Walter Mondale, and Bush’s which would focus on uprooting record is at best pathetic. But poverty, hunger and neocolon given the conditions facing Black ialism within the Third World. Americans and otner voters who Both favor limitations on federal are working people, farmers, intervention to resolve social and racial minorities, the elderly, and economic problems domestically, individuals on welfare or other although Dukakis would un government programs, the selee doubtedly be more "humane” tion between Bush and Dukakis is within a limited fiscal framework. easy. Unquestionably, Dukakis is Both support the goals of budget the “ better candidate” . Without management and administrative fear of contradiction, we can easi efficiency; both oppose radical ly predict that more than 90 per steps to eliminate unemployment cent of the Black electorate and poverty through massive which casts ballots this Novem government intervention. So we ber w ill go for Dukakis over Bush. need to be very clear about what The Hispanic vote for Dukakis, ex is at stake in the selection of cluding the Cuban electorate, Dukakis vs. Bush. There is clearly should be at least 75 percent. The a difference between the two can unemployed will go for Dukakis didates. But that difference will by 65 to 75 percent; union not culminate in any fundamen household voters should support tally different policy alternatives Dukakis by roughly 60 percent. in many areas of domestic and We can be fairly accurate in foreign affairs which impact these predictions, because of the Blacks and working people. previous electoral trends in 1976, T CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL South Africa’s Latest Ban I fiscate the determination of a people to be free. This latest ban he sight of white plainclothes by the Botha government in South police officers awkwardly Africa is indicative of the sense of carrying large, round, movie film moral and political weakness containers under their arms out which permeates all of the fabric side of movie houses in Cape of present day apartheid. Town South Africa is reminiscent Banning “ Cry Freedom" is onTy of both the terror and extremist another senseless and desperate actions of Hitler’s Nazi regime. act by South Africa. These repres The racist apartheid regime of sive acts will not succeed in South Africa recently banned and preventing a rememberance of seized all copies of the movie, Steve Biko. The martyrs of the "Cry Freedom." The police com struggle for liberation and free missioner of Cape Town, General dom in South Africa and through Hennie de Witt, stated that the out the region of southern Africa movie had "a propagandistic are remembered for their sacri theme” and that the movie vio fices and leadership. Ironically, lated South Africa's two-year-old this latest move by South Africa state of emergency. will only ensure that the world “ Cry Freedom” depicts the life community will never forget Steve and tragic death of Steve Biko. Biko and the nameless, countless Biko was a forceful and energetic other sisters and brothers who foe of apartheid. He was beaten have given their lives in the cause to death by South African police of freedom. while in their custody. This movie The African National Congress, also portrayed the journalistic ac the liberation movement of South tivism of Donald Woods, a white South African newspaperman Africa, deserves our support. The people of South Africa and the who became a Biko supporter. people of Angola, Mozambique, One of the realities that South Zambia, Zimbabwe and Bosts- Africa is too blind to see is that wana will need our resolute you cannot ban the truth or con solidarity and commitment. by Benjamin F. Chavis. Jr. T ••' » "» . Z : W ' * X I * V-* * ? ’ « * ‘ w - , » • r