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P a g e 2 , P o r t la n d O b s e r v e r , S e p t e m b e r 2 2 , 1 9 8 8
EDITORIAL
• ?.
by Harold Williams
| f any group today can be called the "forgotten Americans” it is
the Black elderly.
They are in double jeopardy — facing racism and ageism. And
elderly Black women are in triple jeopardy— adding sexism to their
burdens.
A third of older blacks and two out of five older black women are
poor— triple the white rate. Older black families have a third less
income than older whites.
They are three times as likely to be unemployed, and they are far
less likely than whites to own their own homes. Their life expectan
cy is lower. Their housing conditions are worse.
Most blacks don’t have corporate pensions, stocks, or dividends.
And about 40 percent of older blacks get all of their retirement
income from Supplemental Security Income.
That means a priority item on the black agenda has to be a
change in SSI so that its benefit levels are at least equal to the
federal poverty line.
That’s the quickest and surest way to alleviate poverty among
older black people, and it’s a long over-due step that can assure at
least minimum levels of decency toward those most in need.
For many older blacks, the retirement years are simply a contin
uation of the hardship and disadvantage that dogged them all their
lives.
If there is anything we have learned it is that whenever something
bad is coming down the line, it happens to black people first,
Americans can ignore the plight of the black elderly then, only at
their own peril. For ageism — if allowed to go unchecked — will
mean once again sharing with blacks the negatives of discrimina
tion and disadvantage.
We can see that happening today as older white workers are
being forced out of the job market just as surely as blacks have
always been.
Back in 1950 almost half of all men over 65 worked — today less
than a fifth are in the labor force. Back then, 87 percent of men
between the ages of 55 and 64 worked — today that’s down to about
69 percent.
Those figures can be explained in part by the postwar prosperity
that enabled many people to live on their retirement income and
even to retire early.
But much of it is due to policies based on two myths: first, that
older workers can no longer produce, and, second, that their jobs
are needed by younger workers.
That first myth reflects ageism, and results in the hidden unem
ployment that comes when older workers are laid off and when cor
porate restructuring targets older workers for early retirement.
The segregation of older Americans out of the workplace is rein
forced by mandatory retirement, and by social security and pension
regulations that penalize working.
Over the next dozen years the number of Americans over 65 will
increase by six million. But the 18-29 age group will decrease by 8.5
million.
Our economy faces a labor shortage — not a surplus. By forcing
older workers out of the labor force we are reducing America's pro
ductive capacity and its ability to compete in the world's markets.
In the coming years, older workers will assume a more important
place in our economy. We've got to have serious national programs
to train and retrain them for the jobs of the future.
positive opportunities that are
he Portland Convention Cen
much needed to overshadow the
ter is on it's way. The first
negative image that our com
phase of this positive image for
munity has been tagged with for
Portland is just about completed.
decades.
Sept. 8, Hoffman/Marmolejo were
What better way to address the
awarded the contract for the sec
issues of gangs and drugs, with a
ond phase of the convention
true defense of opportunity and
center with a bid of $46,755,000.
em ploym ent. When Hoffm an
Hansel Phelps had a bid of
Construction moved forward with
$46.590,000 which was lower than
this project with the total involve
Hoffman/Marmolejo’s bid; how
ment of minorities and particular
ever Hansel Phelps did not meet
ly Blacks this will send a state
its minority participation goals.
ment to the broader construction
Hoffman met the goal with a joint
industry that the time has come
venture with Marmolejo. Also,
to involve the total racial com
Hoffman went a step further in
munity and the success and pro
making it public through its CEO,
gress of the City of Portland and
Cecil Drinkward, that they would
the State of Oregon.
go beyond the 10% minority par
The proof is in the pudding and
ticipation goals insuring that a
the eating of it. We will know in a
broader spectrum of racial diver
few weeks just how tasty the pud
sity would be participating on the
ding will be that Hoffman Con
convention center project.
struction serves by the number of
Hoffman Construction Com
Blacks and other minorities that
pany and Cecil Drinkward are to
will be seen on the project. We
be commended for this postive
congratulate a positive move by
step, for this will ensure that
Hoffman Construction Company
Blacks will play an important role
and the black community look for
in the construction of the conven-
ward to not being disappointed.
tion center. This will also lend to
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR:
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From An Admirer That Enjoys Your Professionalism
Dear Garland,
Met you briefly about a year ago, all of that to say I saw the play
Sunday. It was Great. Enjoy your column. Thank you for tangibly improv
ing the quality of life in Portland.
ù <5l
4* 4
Sincerely,
Ronnie Herndon
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by John E. Jacob
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OPINION
The Other Side
GUEST EDITORIAL:
♦ ’
/
T
Along the Color Line
Dr. Manning Marable
agenda. The smallest and most
ince last month’s Republi insignificant tendency inside the
can National convention, GOP is the moderate to liberal
Michael Dukakis has almost dis
faction, represented by Lowell
appeared from the national Weicker of Connecticut. Far
media. Virtually all of the political la rg e r are the “ M o d e ra te
attention has focused on the Re Conservatives,” which represent
publican Party nominees. First, the majority of Republicans in
there was the surprise of George Congress, and are led by Bush
Bush’s selection for his Vice and men like Robert Dole,
Presidential running mate. In Howard Baker, Gerald Ford, and
diana Senator Dan Quayle has no Bush campaign manager James
clout within the U.S. Congress; Baker. They all share a belief in
his Reaganite policy positions are fiscal conservatism, but are cen
popular with the ultraright wing of trist on many social policy issues.
the GOP, but he has no national They favor limited government in
or even regional constituency. tervention to address economic
His selection on the ticket did not and social problems, and favor
win Bush anything in the electoral tax increases to cut federal
college, because Indiana would deficits.
have voted Republican regardless
The Moderate Conservatives
of the vice presiential nominee.
are chiefly opposed by the
Bush's selection of this photo “ Reaganites,” who oppose any
g e n ic, p o litic a l lig h tw e ig h t form of federal intervention into
represented his own deep inse the economy; they support hard
curities, a burning desire to be line foreign policies, and oppose
perceived as the "Senior Partner" tax hike of any sort. Reaganites
on th GOP national ticket. That favor supply side economics,
surely wouldn't have been the best represented by the ideas of
case with Robert Dole as the vice Republican Congressman Jack
presidential selection. Bush has Kemp. Finally, there is the faction
been in Reagan’s shadow for so of the Evangelical Rightwing, led
many years, that he was determin by Pat Robertson and Southern-
ed to establish his own creden based politicians. The Religious
tials; the best way to do so was to Right is more preoccupied with
choose a politician without any social policy questions, such as
clout or substance whatsoever, abortion rights and prayer in the
except rightwing rhetoric. Even schools, than any other issues. It
before the party left its conven is more dangerous than any other
tion in New Orleans, the news GOP faction, because it seeks to
broke concerning the controversy impose its own narrow version of
about Quayle’s entry into the In private morality upon the public.
diana National Guard in order to The Religious Right is well-org
avoid serving in Vietnam. The flap anized and despite its recent loss
caused the rightwing consider in public prestige due to the scan
able embarrassment; but the GOP dals of several televangelists, it
stuck with their chickenhawk, and should regroup behind a new can
resorted to the old Nixonian didate for president in 1992.
technique of attacking the press
Bush's immediate problem is
for its investigative reporting on of course getting elected. But if
their beleaguered candidate.
he is successful in defeating Du
Bush’s recent successes ob kakis, he will confront a far more
d iffic u lt dilem m a — presiding
scured his long-term liabilities.
over an unruly political coalition
Because in reality, Dukakis ought
to win this election, albeit narrow of political and social forces
which disagree about a number of
ly. Largely undiscussed within
the media is a fundamental pro fundamental issues. A Bush Pres
idency would elevate a number of
blem which confronts Bush,
Moderate Conservatives into high
which may deny him victory this
office
— James Baker would un
November, ^ is problem is that
doubtedly
be given the Secretary
the major of hardline, conser
of
State
post,
Richard L. Thorn
vative Republicans, the true
burgh
would
keep
the Justice
believers in the Reaganite cause,
Department,
and
moderate
New
are still uneasy about Bush as
Jersey
Governor
Thomas
Kean
their candidate: a substantial
might be selected for a cabinet
m inority of key rightwingers
post. The Reaganites and the
would actually rather see Dukakis
Religious Right would declare
win over Bush
war,
not unlike their struggles
The Republican pady is divided
against
Gerald Ford's administra
into several major and minor
tion
a
decade
ago. The problem
political factions, each guided by
with
George
is
that even if he
a distinct political orientation and
wins
this
November,
he will not
philosophy, its own sets of lead
be
able
to
govern
effectively.
ers, and its separate public policy
S
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a a a a a • « 4. X
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of the dangers of the current
s we approach the day of the political campaign is the false
presidential election of 1988, assumption by some members of
the African-American and other
Tuesday, Nov. 8, we are now able
to see the opportunity for millions racial and ethnic communities
of citizens of the United States to that they “ really do not have
make a clear choice for the future anything to vote for this year.”
leadership and direction of the The truth is this will be the single
nation. The latest polls indicate most important presidential elec
that the contest between Michael tion of the century. The future of
Dukakis and George Bush is just the world, particularly the Third
about even. Yet, for millions of World, is at stake.
African-Americans, Latino-Ameri-
When one travels outside of
cans, Asian-Americans, Native the United States today, partic
A m e rica n s and p ro g re ssive ularly in Africa, Latin America, or
Anglo-Americans the choice is a other Third World regions, the
question of social progress ver first question that is raised is the
sus degeneration. It is a question importance of the U.S. presiden
of racial justice versus injustice. tial election this year. We should
It is a question of peace versus vote in record numbers as an act
of responsibility and citizenship.
war.
One of the glaring contradic We should also vote in record
tions of the Reagan-Bush years numbers as an act of international
has been the dramatic increase in solidarity with the oppressed of
acts of racially motivated violence this world In the interest of
across the nation. There are many justice, liberation and peace.
political and social scientists who
I for one, personally, am com
have concluded that the character mitted to voting for racial justice
of the Reagan Administration has by voting against the Reagan
directly contributed to a national Bush legacy of institutionalized
atmosphere where racial violence racism at home and abroad. It is
has become more tolerable and not institutionalized racism at
accepted.
home and abroad. It is not neces
The Commission for Racial sary to list the long litany of racist
Justice along with other incid acts by the current adminis
ence of racially motivated vio tration. I only wish to remind all
lence in the United States during citizens that we all have some
the last eight years. We found thing to vote for this year. I intend
that in every section of the nation to vote for the cause of peace in
there has been a gigantic in the world and for the cause of
crease in acts of racist violence
liberation. I intend to vote for
primarily perpetrated against rac racial justice. I therefore, intend
ial and ethnic communities. One to vote for Michael Dukakis.
A
Perspectives
You Heard It
Here First!
by Professor McKinley Burt
us will believe anything — but
wo weeks ago, my front page
what we sould believe is that
article in this newspaper
(Busness As Usual?) speculated unless Black social and employ
ment agencies, among other in
that there may be a deliberate ef
stitutions, escalate their under
fort to depress property values in
standing of the real world there
the Northeast Community. I cited
will be even more devastating set
foreign investors and sure enough
backs.
they are in town — in force
I am distressed that we do not
according to many articles in the
find those in highly concentrated
major press. Most recently we are
areas of traditional Black employ
informed that a Japanese syn
ment (Post Office, etc.) taking in
dicate has purchased 49% of the
dependent action to analyze their
real estate of a local college.
industry in light of the technolog
In a different sphere, but equal
ical processes and innovations
ly important to our well being, is a
going on. Why can’t they pool
growing concern over an escalat
their resources and hire indepen
ing presence of computers in the
dent consultants to formulate
workplace. The traumatic econom
meaningful retraining, not to men
ic situation of Blacks is not being
tion workplace adjustments. Too
relieved by this ‘cutting edge’ of
many of us still wait for ol massa
technology. On the contrary, not
to come down from the big house
only are millions of jobs being
and redecorate the slave cabins.
eliminated — being replaced by
These, also, are some of the
‘ high te c h ’ p o s itio n s , they
say — but the major losses are in »reasons I always based my teach
ing of computers upon an initial
precisely those areas where, tra
introduction to not only the basic
ditionally, marginally educated or
systems which comprise a com
trained Blacks could find employ
puter, but also an introduction to
ment.
the systems to which the com
We have this from the Knight-
puter would be applied. This type
Ridder News Service: “ That's the
of preparation — along with rele
im plicit goal of automation. To
vant mathematics — will enable a
take skills away from the workers,
worker to either advance beyond
to make them easier to train and
replace ... a peek under the gold a dead end entry level job, or to
opt for a position elsewhere. But,
en arches. There are no numbers
in any case he must always be
on McDonald's cash registers, just
aware
of the changing technology
little pictures of burgers, Big Macs
around
him. “ Watch as well as
and fries ... work schedules are for
pray!”
mulated by computers ... There's
no such thing as a McDonald’s
manager—The Computer runs the
FORMER PRIME MINISTER
store.” But the highly paid com
NAKASONE SAYS:
puter program designer is not in
the store — try a Los Angeles high
rise.
Well now, weren’t we told of all
the millions of new service jobs
DO YOU AGREE?
(minimum wage) that would be
HAVE YOU BOUGHT A
created by the computer revolu
TOYOTA CAR OR
tion? And that would be the
SONY T.V. LATELY?
employment solution for Black
youth, and for women? Some of
T
Blacks
Are Dumb!