Paye 2, Portland Observer, September 15, 1988
EDITORIAL /
The Other Side
GUEST EDITORIAL:
Another Legislative
Overkill
OPINION
Ignorance: A Luxury
We Can’t Afford
by Harold C. Williams
give to shopping at Nordstrom,
Meier and Frank, Lamont’s, and
Frederick and Nelson to ensure
that our children look good on the
outside, we must give the same
kind of patience to the schools in
insuring that our children will
look good on the inside with
strong, positive, creative minds.
To have the best clothes and the
least knowledge is a price we can­
not afford to pay or allow our
children to be indebted with in
the future.
Ignorance is a luxury we cannot
afford. We in the Black communi­
ty are very high on style. It is time
that we become just as high on
education, on what is being
taught and who is teaching our
children. Which will we equip our
children with? A few fancy
clothes or the best training
money can buy? To all the future
geniuses: Have a good school
year!
his past week school started.
A lot of kids were happy to be
back in school with their new
clothes, cute lunch buckets, and
British Knights shoes. Parents
he creators of the American Constitution felt so strongly about
will be paying until next year on
the right of citizens to protect themselves from harm they
the bill for the outfits their
chiseled an article into that document which guarantees “ the right
children will be wearing for this
of every citizen to bear arms.” In a previous editorial this writer
school year.
lamented the fact that our 200-year-old constitution was outmoded
We want our children to have
and over-amended. It should be rewritten to reflect our evolving
the best of everything, so we
society and the technological advances that the founding fathers
make the sacrifice. But we must
never could have envisioned.
not lose sight of the real issue at
Experience has demonstrated quite adequately that all
hand, which is to ensure that our
persons are not psychologically stable enough to carry any type of
children have the best education
weapon. It always has been impressive to witness the fact that in
possible to allow them a fair
England and the other countries of the United Kingdom, law
chance in the competitive world
enforcement officers do not carry lethal weapons. What is it about
they will face in the future. We
our society that makes instruments of death standard equipment?
must insist that the best books,
Many non-lethal alternatives are available. Why don’t we use them?
and the best teachers the public
Regardless of the apparent deficiencies in the Constitution it
schools have to offer be in the
is very important that none of its guarantees be abrogated for
classrooms to shape the minds of
whatever noble cause that might be intended.
these precious young people.
The housing authorities’s intention to deny tenants under
For as much patience as we
their jurisdiction the right to bear arms is unconstitutional. Addi­
tionally, they have denied their clients not only equal protection
under the law but also the right to live in peace and harmony in a
tranquil environment.
It is about time inhabitants of public housing banded together
and brought about a class action suit to ensure safe, adequate and
Dr. Manning Marable
clean housing. Too Long have the people of Portland tolerated
official nonfeasance from its public officials.
Each time a new crisis arises, another quick fix is pulled from
the bag of tricks that gets good press coverage but does nothing to
resolve the problem. Criminals do not register their weapons. Mo
crimes are not committed with legal weapons. Hasn’t anyone told
the people who make such follish decisions that the passing of a
law to ban something does not make that item disappear? Adequate
lighting and the policing of high crime areas does reduce crime.
Mondale was perceived as the
espite the unprecendented
This new approach to a very serious problem is almost as full
“ Blacks' candidate” , and given
accom plishm ents of the
of such nescience as the governor’s proposal to build more peniten-
Reverend Jesse Jackson in the the degree of political weight ac­
taries to reduce crime. Doesn’t it make more sense to spend a good
corded to racial considerations;
1988 Democratic primaries, there
amount of money on the prevention of crime rather than on com-
the masses of whites threw their
is substantial evidence indicating
miting the people of Oregon to the 24-hour custodial care of lesser
support behind Reagan, the can­
that millions of white voters re­
offenders? Large dealers are not incarcerated. We can’t even arrest
didate
who symbolized "w hites’
jected the progressive candidate
the young person who shot Kahlima Shamsudin How can the ban­
interests.”
largely on the grounds of race.
ning of weapons from public housing reduce drive-by shootings?
Bush is trying to repeat
According to the data compiled
None of this makes any sense. Intuitively we all know that it is not
Reagan's
strategy by building a
by University of California, Irvine
going to work. To write laws which cannot work is to re-invent
white
united
front across the
professor Amihai Glazer, based
anarchy. Wise up, folks. There are more effective ways to run a city!
South.
Tactically,
he is trying to
on the results of 22 Democratic
turn
the
Democrat’s
two man tic­
primaries, a one percent increase
ket
into
a
troika
—
Dukakis,
Bent-
in the percentage of Black voters
sen,
and
Jesse
Jackson.
In
the
in any state corresponded to a
conservative
Democratic
ethnic
one percent decline in the frac­
enclaves of the Midwest and east
Recently, President Reagan signed into law H.R. 4143, legislation
tion of white voters who support­
coast, Bush is repeating the same
sponsored by Oregon Congressman Les AuCoin and Oregon Senator
ed Jackson in the state’s Demo­
tactic. In Chicago, he is aligned
cratic primary. In other words, the
Mark Hatfield, to create a 9,811-acres reservation for Oregon’s Grand
with the vicious racist, former
more Blacks who live, work and
Ronde Indian tribe. The following is a statement from Congressman Les
Chicago Democratic boss “ Fast
vote in any state, the fewer whites
AuCoin:
Eddie” Vrdolyak; in Philadelphia,
there were in that state who were
“ This is the culmination of five years of work by the tribe, the com­
Bush is backed by former mayor
munity, and the Congress, and it can hardly be more satisfying than this.
willing to vote for Jackson.
and police chief Frank Rizzo.
"This new reservation sets straight past injustices, gives tribal
For instance, Jackson received
Bush has opposed vigorous en­
members the chance to improve the quality of their lives, and protects
about one-third of the votes from
fo rc e m e n t o f c iv il rig h ts
and promotes economic opportunities around the entire area. The com­
whites in the state of Vermont,
m easures, and backed the
munity as a whole has done itself proud by working to put together this
which has less than one percent
destruction of the U.S. Civil
Black voting age population.
compromise.”
____________________
■ W
.ii
■
Rights Com m ission. Perhaps
Jesse obtained over 35 percent of
more importantly, Bush’s entire
the
white
vote
in
Oregon,
which
Creed Of The Black Press
campaign has emphasized issues
has a Black population of one per­
The Black Press believes that America can best lead the world away from
of concern which mobilize sub­
cent. In Ohio, however, where
social and national antagonisms when it accords to every person, regardless of
liminal racial fears and anxieties
Blacks represent about 12 per­
race, color, or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing
among many whites. Without
cent of the electorate, Jackson’s
no person, the Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief that
overt racist rhetoric, the vice
vote declined to about 17 percent
all are hurt as long as anyone is held back.
president is trying to create the
among whites; in New York, with
impression that Dukakis is the
a Black electorate of 14 percent,
“ Blacks’ candidate.”
the white vote for Jackson drop­
Dukakis could have seized the
ped to 15 percent. In New Jersey,
opportunity to build an effective
where one out of five Democratic
anti-racist coalition, structured
voters are Black, the white vote
upon the successes of the Jack-
for Jackson declined to 13
son campaign. He could have us­
percent.
ed the electoral forum as a bridge
In summary, the white elec­
OREGON'S OLDEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PUBLICATION
to link multicultural constituen­
torate
is
far
more
"race
con­
Established in 1970
cies, while simultaneously con­
scious”
in
its
electoral
behavior
Leon Harris/Gen Mgr
Alfred L. Henderson/Pubiisher
demning the Reagan-Bush record
than are Blacks, who are ac­
Nyewusi
Askari
on civil rights and affirmative ac­
customed
to
voting
for
white
Gary Ann Garnett
News Editor/Staff Writer
Business Manager
tion. Instead, Dukakis has largely
Democratic candidates year after
Mattie
Ann
Callier-Spears
capitulated to the racist currents
year.
Glazer
suggests
that
covert
Joyce Washington
Religion
Editor
in white politics by accom­
racial
bigotry
is
manifested
within
Sales/Marketing Director
modating to Bush’s tactics. Last
the
political
culture
of
whites
to
Bill Scheider
Danny Bell
month, Dukakis gave a major
such an extent that it can be ac­
Copy Editor/Photographer
Sales Representative
speech at a county fair in
curately measured. “ In the old
Richard Medina
Ruby Reuben
Philadelphia, Mississippi, the site
days,
if
you
were
a
racist
white,”
Photo-Composition
Sales Representative
of the brutal murders of three civil
Glazer notes, “ you might get
Lonnie Wells
Rosemarie Davis
rights workers in 1964. Dukakis
violent against Blacks ... That's
Circulation
Manager
Sales Representative
not only failed to mention the ex­
now not accepted, so one way of
B. Gayle Jackson
ecutions,
but neglected to outline
expressing these emotions is to
Comptroller
his
vision
of a bi-racial society
vote against the candidate Blacks
PORTLAND OBSERVER
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on
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social
justice
for
all. More recent­
The immediate consequences
P O Sox 3137 • Portland Oregon 97208
ly,
his
campaign
staff
is reported
of Glazer’s research have not
Phone Numbers: (503) 288 0033 (Office)
to
have
ordered
Jesse
Jackson
escaped the consideration of the
(503) 288 1756 (Classified/ Display)
not
to
campaign
in
certain
states,
Bush and Dukakis campaigns. In
Deadlines for all submitted materlels
for
fear
of
his
sparking
a
white
Articles: Monday, 5 pm .: Ads Tuesday. 5 p m
1984, Democratic presidential
The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions Manuscripts end photographs should
backlash
against
Dukakis.
The
on­
candidate Walter Mondale carried
be clearly labeled end will be returned II accompanied by a sail-addressed envelope
ly
way
to
challenge
racism
is
to
at­
about 28 percent of the overall
Subscriptions 120 00 per yeer in the TnCownty e r w
tack
it
directly;
in
his
failure
to
Southern white vote; in states like
The PORTLAND OBSERVER — Oregon s oldest Afrlcen-Americsn Publication — is • member of
challenge
racism
in
presidential
Mississippi and Alabama, Mon­
The National Newspaper Association - Founded in 1885. The Oregon Newspaper Publishers
politics, Dukakis is sowing the
Association, and The National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers. Inc . Naw
dale won less than 15 percent of
Vert.
seeds of his own defeat.
the white vote. Symbolically,
T
by Stephen McPherson
Special Correspondent
T
Along the Color Line
“Race and
Presidential Politics”
D
Grand Ronde Indians Wait
Five Years For Reservation
PORTLfiMlUOE&ERVER
•'fa g a ;
S.«
•
■ •o a
C IV IL RIGHTS JOURNAL
A Salute To
Newark Mayor James
as all nations should be treated in
the world community. It appears
t a time when there are re­ that the Reagan Administration
newed public speculations has a proclivity for attacking Third
World nations, particularly na­
about the quality and compet­
ence of African-American leader­ tions of African and Latino
ship at the local and national peoples. We well remember the
levels, it is indeed good news to devastating and illegal invasion of
know of the caliber and the effec­ Grenada by the United States, as
tiveness of the Honorable Sharpe well as the continued immoral
James, the mayor of Newark, New support of the Reagan Ad­
Jersey. There are many major m inistration for the Contra’s
cities in the United States that against Nicaragua and for the
now have an African-American as UNITA m ercenaries aga inst
mayor, including Los Angeles,. Angola. Now that the South
Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, African army has retreated from
Angolan territory, why is it that
Atlanta, and Washington, D.C.
Mayor James, on Sept. 7, 1988, George Bush and Ronald Reagan
took an initiative that w ill have a persist in their efforts to continue
p ro fo u n d in te rn a tio n a l and to isolate Angola diplomatically
historic impact. The mayor of on the one hand, and on the
Newark announced that the city other hand continue to send
of Newark will establish formal weapons of death and destruc­
“ city to city” relations with tion to Jonas Savimbi’s UNITA
Luanda, the capital city of Angola. bandits?
At the press conference in
Newark, under Mayor James'
Newark
when Mayor James made
leadership, is the first city in the
his
announcement,
represen­
United States to formally reach
tatives
of
the
Permanent
Mission
out to the People’s Republic of
Angola. Luanda is a city of ap­ of the People’s Republic of Ango­
proximately two million people, la to the United Nations express­
and it is one of the major port ed th e ir a p p re c ia tio n and
cities on the west coast of Africa. gratitude for Mayor James’ lead-
Newark is the largest container ship in helping to improve rela­
port on the east coast of the tions between Angola and .the
United States.
United States.
Mayor James has been mayor
Mayor James stated, “ We take
this initiative to mane Newark and of Newark since 1986. Prior to his
Luanda sister cities because we election as mayor, he served 16
are both committed to justice, years on the Newark City Council.
peace, economic development If you talk to residents in Newark
today, many will affirm that
and human decency.”
We all are well aware that dur­ Newark is presently undergoing a
ing the last eight years the Rea­ p o sitive re v ita liz a tio n , both
gan Administration has imposed p o litic a lly and econom ically.
an unjust diplomatic blockade Mayor Sharpe James is to be
concerning the People's Republic credited for Newark’s remarkable
of Angola. This struggling African progress during the last two
nation in southern Africa has years. Certainly, because of
been officially recognized by all Mayor James, the people of New­
nations of the world with the ex­ ark and the people of Luanda will
ception of the racist apartheid be able to join hands in the cause
regime of South Africa and the of international goodwill, develop­
United States. Angola deserves to ment and justice. We salute
be treated with justice and peace Mayor Sharpe James.
by Beniamin F. Chavis, Jr.
A
P e r s p e c tiv e s
Robin Hood and
Law School
by Professor McKinley Burt
ollowing on from last week,
I cite other comments by
Secretary of Education, William
Bennett: “ Curriculum has been
unchallenging and uninteresting
... Stress thought, not just meth­
odology and results ... Focus on
c la s s ic
and
im a g in a tiv e
literature.”
F
Certainly, I documented that
for over one hundred years Black
educators designed and imple­
mented curriculum that has more
than met the standards quoted
above. Last week, we set that
tone, Mr. Bennett — an august
company, indeed, you seek to
join. We who were consultants in
d e v e lo p in g
P o r tla n d ’ s
“ Multicultural Curriculum" note
that the Ladies Home Journal for
September cited it “ among the
ten best in the nation." In the
tradition, my lesson plans incor­
porated classic vehicles ranging
from Alice In Wonderland to Afri­
can mathematical papyri. We
should look now for "implementa­
tion."
A particular directive of the
secretary: "Focus on classic and
imaginative literature.” It was
years after the fact when I realized
that my fifth grade encounter with
"Robin Hood" had a lot to do with
an easy passage of the law school
entrance exam (as a high school
dropout). Not just that Robin "rob­
bed the rich folks because the
poor folks had no gold" (Nat King
Cole), but that those early
teachers piqued our interest and
imagination with similar social
comment.
They explained why Friar Tuck
was freed from the jail of the
Sheriff of Nottingham before the
traveling judge came on his cir­
cuit to hold court (The Spring
Assize of Anglo Saxon law — to­
day's Circuit Judge). A child would
be answered, “ Yes, the sheriff
collected taxes then as now.” It
was a painless assimilation of
western legal and social con­
cepts. In Sherwood Forest, Robin
Hood poached food for the hu n -,
gry serfs on the fee estates of the
landed gentry —the Magna Charta
(1215 A.D.) gave rights only to the
nobles, and the King (the State)
had eminent domain over all.
Apropos both my mother and
aunt, out of teacher’s college by
1920, claimed they could take the
Bible, Shakespeare and a good
math book and prepare any Black
child for the best prep schools.
Early “ Partners In Excellence”
primed the kids' imagination for
Jules Verne’s “ Journey to the
Center of the Earth,” or Buck
Rogers in an early “ Star Ship
Enterprise.” More “ imaginative ”
science later in learning that "the
‘octaves’ of the Table of Chemical
Elements and the Electromag­
netic Spectrum are comparable to
great symphonies’.”
Yes, the world is a story, and
“ The play is the thing.” It can be
taught well in the "narrative." All
our children can handle It — give
them a chance at excellence.