• » • « »
«g * 2, P o rtla n d O b s e rv e r, A u g u s t 25. 1988
porti a MU S
ohegon ’S old
erver
r A frican A merican
EDITORIAL
Scientists
Are
Urgently
Needed
publication
E s ta b lis h e d in 1970
Alfred L. Henderson
Publisher
Gary Ann Ga>nett
Busme
Man »ger
Joyce Washington
Sides/M arfu i - g nirector
Danny Bell
Sales B
re en'ative
Ruby seuberi
Sales Representative
Rosemarie Davis
"»aies R . i
entat ve
Leon Harris/Gen Mgr
Nyewusi Askari
News Editor/Slatl Writer
Mattie Ann Callier-Spears
Bill Scheider
Copy Editor/Photographer
Richard Medina
Photo-Composition
I onnie Wells
Circulation Manager
B. Gayle Jackson
Comptroller
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G u e s t E d ito ria l
A Separate People Or
A Common Cause?
Ly Sam Kahl
D.C. Today, while global mutiple
crises
- pestilence, drought and
ivide a id Conquer is an­
civil
turmoil
■ assault the walls of
cient
iiategy; used with
tranquility,
two
non-entities will
great succes by conquerors and
contest
each
other
this coming
imperials tyr. nts throughout the
election
to
avoid
the
real issues
, Juries ot our species' struggle
of
the
human
condition.
You and
identity, g o w th and liberation,
I,
meanwhile,
will
supposed
to be
r
way Divide and Conquer
worked
up
into
a
frenzy
over
a rks is like this It I can succeed
whether
it
is
the
Democratic
Party
1 getting you to war with your
pighbot, then I just might suc- or the Republican Party which will
, et d in rulinq over both of you give to us personally a crumb of
while you’re preoccupied with existence in this no-man’s land
>ther. Indeed, that life has become.
your hatred ot ea
Demagogues whip up a lynch-
ir,
r , i will view
t this
mob
antagonism between busi­
h be io sew anti
ny S'
ness
and
labor against the Japa
ousy mi -trust
?ulti\
nese
and
toward
each other. They
esentn ent and rage among you >
are
convenient
targets
for frus­
■,i(l exploit your »gnoiance, mis-
trated
people.
Bush
and
Dukakis,
liiect your energies and sow divi-
reading
identical
scripts
with
,n among you, settirq neighbor
minor
variations,
will
castigate
gainst r ighbor fiiend against
the federal budget deficit and
friend, sibling against sibling.
decry
public spending, thereby
If , out ego has sufficiently
helping
to psychologically condi
swalh web up your reason, your
emoti ■ » may soar with some tion us to accept cuts in our con
• J you sumption and our living stand­
¡o win '.von it you Uisuim your ards, but they re not brave enough
stupor long enough to identify me to spell this out openly.
Finally, to bring this home to a
as your »-nemy, I can probably pre-
, t-uit yon t om doi g anything by focal point, the Black community,
©pi
i r ! »tential supporters something like a Third World na­
njru ii nd division Moreover, tion within domestic borders, has
, n t >h -uly get your own peo- been conditioned to play a useful
;Ui. t Kill you their potential role in the scheme of subjugation
• iT'/ Of devil. and control, and it is not just
,
naqedy ot ii tii is. we are all Black people who are victims.
■ • .eti we partici- Have you ever noticed that real
11 s ir . ouch a distortion ot the problems, such as gangs and
musically qenerated laws that crack houses, are associated in
•,ulat' galaxies and solar sys the public media with the Black
community? I am not disputing
ten ns, the living cell and atoms,
he pages f history are hiand- the reality of a high proliferation
ed with such outiaqes to the of these problems in the North
human identity. During the 17th Portland area What I dispute is
itury Euiope was ravaged by a the way ttie facts are used, ex­
ody contest that lasted thirty ploiting lingering perceptions
trs. As the poet and dramatist that Blacks are ‘ less than’’ — in
■ i ;drich S • slier demonstrates ability, in culture, in person-
■ ms History oi ine lhirty Years ho o d —to insinuate the miscon­
War,” small minded persons were ception that the problems we face
mpowered to contest over the are peculiar to the Black com
•ourues ot Europe by whipping munity. What is the purpose of
p hatred between Catholics and this? Io keep the “ rest of us” off-
Protestants However, as the balance, lulled with a false sense
fting alliances proved, the en- of security in an increasingly un­
uing holy wars” were just a safe world of our making, by subt­
text for ambitious persons to ly conditioning us to believe that
t the wealth ot civilized socie- it is their” problem, not “ ours,”
/ Common citizens plagued by thank God!
Tell me, who is the sucker in all
1 inom ic
e; ston material
of
this? While we fear and de­
rrcity and cultural poverty, join-
grade
each other, often mindless
not in a common cause to
ly.
the
problems remain unsolved
whi< h plagued
solve jroblem
and
growing
Can any of us really
them; rather, like hungry dogs
believe
that
there
are boundary
fri izir d by m blood ot a single
lines
that
will
contain
problems
ce • f mt t tin po< r fools |oin-
which
fester,
so
far.
in
only cer­
the Got j or War in a blood-
tain
areas
of
our
local
and
global
ft s to slaughter and brutality
communities9
This
is
how
Divide
Shina. India .nil the Middle
and
Conquer
works
It
is
based
on
¡t were conquered and main
an
imaqined
war
of
“
turfs”
—
ied undt imperial domination
physical
and
psychological.
The
by force of arms as
so mu
mistrust . j rivalries nurtured way out of our becoming a “ con
one the iptivt peoples them- quered people is to disarm mis
i ves J 'W ud Arabs were bar trust, fear and ignorance, become
old in the polih< al an actively self-governing citizen
I ft r,)d i f f
kroorns of London, Paris, and ry and participate in solutions
dor Moscow and Washington Our safety is in each other1
D
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Religion Editor
/
George Washington Carver in­
vented over 300 uses for the
asily the most interesting
peanut and over 100 uses for the
book that I have read about
science and scientists is Robert sweet potato. Others covered in
the book are Matthew Henson
C. Hayden’s ‘Seven Amerikan
(1865
1955), an explorer, Ernest
S cientists’. The book is a collec­
E.
Just
(1883-1941) and Charles
tion of seven brief biographical
H.
Turner
(1867-1923).
sketches of Black men who have
by Dr. Jamil Cherovee
E
achieved success and fame in
the sciences in Amerika. The
volume, geared for students in
the fifth through ninth grades, is
both fascinating and enjoyable
reading for students of all ages.
It begins with Charles R. Drew
(1904-1950) the creator of blood
plasma in 1940. Drew was later
to be refused a blood transfu­
sion in Tuskegee, Alabama, after
being injured in an auto c o lli­
sion, and died on his way to a
segregated hospital miles away.
Probably just as important as
Drew was Dr. Daniel Hale W ill­
iams. who in 1893 performed the
first open heart surgery in
history on a man who was stabb­
ed in Chicago. Although he was
the first one to do so, W illiam s is
not generally given credit for
this distinction. This is because
he refused to publish a report of
this event until 1897, after a Ger­
man doctor, Dr. W illiam Rehn,
who reported a similar achieve­
ment fully three years after
W illiam s in 1896.
The two scientists most well-
known to Black people are Ben­
jamin Banneker and George
Washington Carver. Banneker
was a writer, scientist and sur­
veyor who published an annual
almanac from 1792 to 1802. Ban­
neker was also instrumental in
designing the city of Washing
ton, D C. as the nation's capital.
I found Blacks In Am erika’s
War’, by Robert W. Mullen, a
repudiation of the Amerikan
m ilitary by Black people, in
uniform and out, may offer one
of the most fundamental assess­
ments of Afro resistance to
racism. This reality gives weight
to Robert M uller's narrative. As a
super-pamphlet or mini-book, it
lacks the definitive scholarship
of Ulysees Lee s ‘The Employ­
ment of Negro Troops After
World War I’, the analytical prob­
ing of the chapter on war and
racism in Sidney W illh e lm s
‘Who Needs the Negro’, or -the
s t ill sh a rp e r re v o lu tio n a ry
analyses of several pieces in
‘Vietnam and Black Amerika’.
Instead, Mullen offers a quick,
readable overview of Afro-Ameri-
kan stances in relation to all
Amerikan wars, making it the on­
ly work in print with that range.
Modest in interpretation, the ac­
count still makes plain the ‘‘Use
them now, drop them later”
policy of the U S. government
towards its Balack semi-citizens
in times of international trouble.
The a u th o r a ls o u n e a rth s
valuable inform ation about the
Black involvement (on both sides)
in the War against the Phillip-
pines, 1899 1902, and provides
some fresh glances at Black
power agitation in the armed
forces during the Vietnam War.
Perspectives
‘S c h o o l D a z e ’
by Professor McKinley Burt
c
í t O
tandard Cursive or Italic
Cursive handwriting?
Zaner-Bloser or Hieroglyphics,
What’s in a name? It is easy to tell
that the Fall Equinox is ap­
proaching, and so are the peren­
n ia l— and diverse — advocates in
the educational establishment
The public’s mandate to teach the
student writing as well as reading
may have lacked the critical direc­
tive to “ just let the teachers do
it — they know how !”
So much for the School
Board's Curriculum Committee,
but yon National Educational
Association has also anticipated
a fall intersection with the eclip­
t ic — The plane of the Earth’s or­
bit. This month, the Chief Astro­
nomer and President of N.E.A.,
Mary Futrell, provides us with “ An
Open Letter to America’s High
School Students.” Before I com­
ment, let me refresh the reader on
several earlier (and very expen­
sive) trips by the educational
fraternity/soro rity. The
New
Math” for one, and “ Metric,” tor
another. The millions spent in
Oregon — over a b illio n , na­
tionally— did not markedly arrest
the general decline in educa­
tion — Sound and Fury!
We may abstract from Futrell's
open letter’: ” ... N E.A reminds
students that teachers and par­
ents need their help to make ed­
ucation the best that it can be
discuss curriculum with your
parents, school administrators
and teachers.” What about the
counselors? Most specific to the
point I wish to make, we have this:
“ Many of the jobs that were avail­
able to ... dropouts just 20 years
ago have gone abroad As our
country moves from an industrial
economy to one based on infor­
mation and services, you will have
to be better educated."
I doubt very seriously if today's
high school students, many ed­
ucationally disabled, are able to
mount a critical analysis of their
curriculum in respect to the com­
plicated interface with informa­
tion. technology, and career prep­
aration (Perhaps it was they who
advocated The New Math and
Metric capers?) I can’t even
believe this ploy when, over twen­
ty years ago (1966 Award), I dem­
onstrated to several school dis­
tricts and the National Science
Foundation that successful learn­
ing models are designed only by
those with “ real-time experience”
in the critical areas. Buick used to
advertise, “ Ask the man who
owns one.”
In a December, 1987 interview
by this newspaper, I described
this interactive, hands-on system
involving student, teacher, in­
dustry, on-line computers and
teletypes and the underlying
mathematics and communication
modes. The classroom become a
site tor simulation of "the real
world" and proved to be an effec­
tive and fascinating learning
tool — language, m athem atics
and technology walking together!
Thanks to that major educa­
tional conference at Gearhart,
Oregon last month (Partners In
Excellence). I will be demon­
strating the system in six cities
this winter and installing it in two
districts — with the addition of
Satellite Transmissions'
O P IN IO N
“ The
Other
Side”
But, the pain of it all is this
strong and handsome man, this
com passionate and beautiful
woman, are strangers in our
society. They give the best ot
themselves to everyone else, but
never to one another.
Cultures have built their im­
ages around her statuesque be
ing. Kings have called him in for
counsel and they give and give to
by Harold C. Williams
everyone else, but not to one
he other day I had the occa­ another. Oh, what a tragedy! You
sion to witness a phenome­ know the world would stop for a
non that is unique and heartbreak­
moment if these two individuals
ing. I saw two beautiful people, would come together, look each
one male, one female, he repre­ other in the eye, set aside their
sented what is strong, dynamic petty differences and embrace
and innovative in our society and each other's strengths. These two
she is all that represents beauty, strangers are leaving a void in our
class and passion.
society and they must come
Every culture has marveled at together to give hope to the little
his intellect and his strength. His boys and the little girls of our
athletic ability is matched by future.
none. His intellectual potential
Lets take a moment and say
reaches beyond the universe. hello, Black man, Black woman.
Every culture copies him, but Black man you are the father of
none wants to be him.
civilization and the king of the
Her smile radiates and causes planet Earth Black woman you
the universe to change its focus. are the mother of civilization and
She gives a robin a reason to sing
the queen of the planet Earth. If
She gives softness to the breeze you would speak to one another
in spring. When she touches one, and become one, our community
it is ever so gently You are filled would be whole again. Hellc
with compassion when you see Black woman, hello Black man
her smile.
Isn't it time to befriends9
T
PORTLAND OBSERVER
“ The Eyes and Ears of the Community
288-0033
CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL
Mission
To Angola
Church, the National Progres
sive Baptist Church, and the
he G overnm ent of the African M ethodist Episcopal
People s Republic of Angola Church.
has issued an invitation to Afri­
Included in the delegation are:
can-American leaders to visit Rev. Al Sampson and Rev. Leroy
their nation. I recently received a Sanders from Chicago; Rev. Ed­
message from Angola’s Presi­ win R. Edmonds from New
dent, Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, Haven; Rev Nelson Taylor from
encouraging efforts to increase Biloxi, M ississippi; Rev. John
the level of understanding and Mendez and Rev. Leon White
to strengthen the relationship from North Carolina; Rev. Wen­
between the people of Angola dell Anthony from Detroit; Rev.
and the people of the United Mary Anne Bellinger from Atlan­
States. In particular, President ta; Rev. Garland Jones from
Dos Santos noted the strategic Richmond; Rev. Irvine Bryer
importance and role of the from New York City; Rev. Leticia
A frica n -A m e rica n church in Rouser from Lexington, Ken-,
helping to build bridges of good tucky; and Atty. Lewis Meyers
w ill between the two nations.
from Chicago; Atty. Deborah
Earlier this year, during a visit Jackson from New York and Af­
to Angola, I was most impressed rican-American media special
by the com m itm ent and valor of ists Linda Kay Brown, Phil
the Government of Angola to de
Jones, Lamont Gonzalez, and
fend the territorial boundary Annette Lawrence
and the sovereignty of their na­
The central objectives of the
tion. At this moment the eyes of 18-day trip are to engage in a
the world are focused on Angola fact-finding mission, to learn
as a nation that is successfully first-hand the reality of the situa­
repelling the racist apartheid tion in Angola today, particularly
regime of South Africa. At a time the effect of South Africa's con­
when the intransigence of South tinued invasion of Angola terri­
Africa appears to be as fossiliz­ tory; to investigate some of the
ed as ever, it is, indeed, critical atrocities com m itted against the
to the future of the region of people of Angola by South A fri­
southern Africa for the Angolans ca’s surrogate, UNITA, led by
to continue to win a victory Jonas Savimbi; to strengthen
against South Africa.
the relationship between the
The extent to which Angola is churches of Angola and African
successful is the extent to A m erican c h u rch e s in the
which Namibia's liberation will United States; to conduct a m is­
be enhanced. It is also the ex­ sion of good w ill and to help im­
tent to which apartheid in South prove the relationship between
Africa w ill ultim ately be disman­ the people of Angola and the
tled. Thus, one can understand people of the United States; and
why Angola dares to allow the to observe the progress and
African National Congress and development of the Angolan
the Southwest African People's economy, culture and society
Organization to maintain bases
It is our intention, when we
in their country
return to the United States, to
The serious solidarity work share our experiences and our
necessary to assist the struggle learnings with as many people
in southern Africa often involves as possible We are thankful to
risk and faith. By the time you the Government of Angola for
read this commentary, I w ill be providing the opportunity for
in Angola along with a delega­ this trip. Yet, it is our respon
tion of nineteen other church sibility to make sure that more
and civil rights leaders. They of the truth of Angola's reality
represent ten states and local gets back to our communities
churches from four denomina­ The best weapon against op
tions: the United Church of pression is to expose it with thp
C h r is t. U n ite d M e th o d is t IriHh
by Benjamin F. Chavis. Jr.
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