« 3
-M
Page 2 • Portland Observer • January 5, 1989
EDITORIAL /
OPINION
An Agenda For Black Empowerment
Celebrating Holidays:
An Afro-Centric Perspective
by Dr. Manning Marable
cally a white party, which for pur­
A half century ago, the Black
poses of political appearance must
the
struggle
for
survival
and
develop­
community’s
leaders
bought
into
a
white America continued to increase,
African-Americans should always
nurture and promote a tiny number of
ment.
Hence
our
celebration
of
holi­
political
strategy
of
reliance
and
celebrate holidays, any holiday from the decline in Black life expectancy
middle class Blacks. It's no longer
days should reflect our need to sur­
dependency upon the Democratic
an Afro-Centric perspective. That is was the first for any group in America
acceptable in American political cul­
vive
and
develop
as
a
people.
The
Party
in
national
elections.
The
goal
to say that Black people as a devel­ in the last 25 years. Black family
ture to appear to be vulgarly racist,
way
we
celebrate
therefore
will
either
was
to
increase
our
collective
power
income ($18,000) was stalled at about
oping national community should view
so a certain number of Blacks pro­
be a part of the solution or a part of
within the electoral system, and to
holidays in terms of our needs as a 56% of that of white family income
vide a proper cover to justify repre-
the
problem.
eradicate
Jim
Crow
segregation.
(32,000) in 1987. In this regards again
people and "celebrate" accordingly.
sive policies against the black com­
For example to the extent that our
Unquestionably, for a time, this single-
Black people, as a group, are actu­
Frivolous celebration and merry
munity as a whole. Racism may
celebration
of
Christmas
highlights
party
approach
yielded
substantial
making without regard to the condi­ ally going backward, not forward. As
underscore Bush’s entire social and
the
birth
of
Christ
as
a
fulfillment
of
benefits.
Civil
Rights
legislation,
tion of our people may be like fiddling we “celebrate" during the present
economic agenda, but the new
God's promise of human liberation,
economic and social welfare pro­
holiday season, nearly 2/3 of all the
while the house is burning down.
administration must nevertheless go
then
African-Americans
quest
for
grams, minority set-asides, and af­
All kinds of information continues prisoners jamming America’s jails are
through
the motions of appointing a
survival
and
development
is
en­
firmative action were largely bypro­
to indicate that though some Black Black. African-Americans are being
token number of African-Americans
hanced.
To
the
extent
that
Christ­
ducts
of
this
coalition
approach
which
people are living very well these days, disproportionately locked up not
mostly in symbolic positions. These
mas and other holidays focus on and
gave millions of Black votes to white
vast numbers of our brothers and because there is something wrong
few nonwhites who participate at the
emphasize
family
and
our
family-
Democrats.
sisters are subsisting in desparately with Black people, but because the
doors of the corridors of power are
hood as a people then Christmas
But as last year’s presidential
miserable conditions. Nearly 35% of American system continues to fail
well-rewarded.
and
other
holidays
strengthen
our
elections
only
reconfirm,
the
old
lib­
Black people in American still live in us.
But the solution to the question of
capacity
to
build
a
brighter
future
for
eral
coalition
has
become
perma­
The point is that Black people in
poverty in 1988. A dramatic report
Black powerlessness is not to be
Black people.
nently unglued. The leadershipof the
America are still afflicted by racism
released by the National Center for
found
by leaping from the political
Unfortunately,
I
am
forced
to
Democratic
Party
is
rapidly
moving
and economic deprivation and we
Health Statistics recently revealed
frying
pan
into the fire. The Republi­
observe
that
far
too
much
of
what
we
rightward
on
questions
of
race
and
need to recognize this fact. African-
that life expectancy for African-
can
Party
is
dominated by the most
as
Black
people
celebrate
is
either
economic
justice.
More
importantly,
Americans actually dropped from 1984 Americans as a national community
conservative
and reactionary con­
irrelevant
or
actually
negative
in
terms
apparently
Democratic
presidential
need to continue, indeed to escalate
to 1986. While life expectancy for
stituencies in white corporate Amer­
of our development as a people. For
candidates lack the capacity to win
ica; the entire leadership of the
instance the true meaning of Christ­
national elections against the Re­
Republican Party throughout the
mas is virtually buried beneath an
publicans, despite the parly’s contin­
South is largely the old Dixiecrat,
avalanche of commercialism and
ued domination in the Congress. Since
segregationist reactionaries who
by Beniamin F, Chavis. Jr.
frenzied deficit spending; a further
1969, Democrats have controlled the
opposed Dr. King and the civil rights
illustration of Black peoples tendency
Executive Branch of the federal
movement. We can only begin to
to pay for what we want, and BEG for
government for only four years. Since
address our own political dilemma by
what we need. Civil Rights organiza­
the vast majority of Black administra­
establishing two things; an independ­
tions go begging, Black colleges are
tors and would-be public officials are
ent, aggressive political organization
fighting for survival (thank God for
Democrats, this has meant that they
which can articulate the legitimate
Bill
Cosby’s
example)
and
in
every
are generally shut out of decision­
successive years while the life ex­
The National Center for Health
grievances of Black working people
Black
community
in
America
there
is
making
posts
within
government.
pectancy of whites increased.
Statistics in Washington, D.C. has
and advance our own public policy
some
agency,
institution,
organiza­
Because the civil rights organiza­
According to the Washington Post,
just released a shocking report. For
agenda; and by setting strategic goals
tion
or
just
a
Black
Family
or
neigh­
tions are heavily linked, politically
“ Some officials attributed part of the
the first time in the twentieth century
for
the achievement of that agenda,
bor
which
could
use
some
human
or
and financially, to traditionally Demo­
problem to economic policies of the
the life expectancy of African-Ameri­
no
matter who occupies the White
financial
assistance.
And
yet
we
are
cratic constituencies, their political
Reagan administration, which they
cans in the United States has de­
African-Americans
blow
billions
on
House.
clout
in
the
Reagan
administration
said have increased homelessness,
creased in two successive years while
extravagant, excessive, unnecessary
was virtually nonexistent.
An agenda for Black Empower­
cut
aid and health care to the poor
the life expectancy for Anglo-Ameri­
spending on much that is meaning­
Facing
the
apparent
permanency
ment
must tackle the long-term is­
and
otherwise
hurt
blacks
dispropor­
cans has continued to increase.
less and superflous for Christ’s birth­
sues
which
every Black community
of
the
white
electorate’s
conserva­
tionately.”
the
infant
mortality
rate
I have received many letters dur­
day.
It
becomes
a
party
without
a
across
this
nation must address:
tism,
a
number
of
Black
political
lead­
among
African-Americans
is
more
ing the last eight years questioning
purpose,
a
holiday
which
ignores
our
hunger,
poverty,
inadequate hous­
ers
and
political
commentators
are
than
double
that
among
white
Ameri­
our criticism of Reagan administra­
holocaust.
ing,
poor
public
health
care, the lack
now
suggesting
that
the
solution
to
cans.
During
the
last
eight
years
tion social policies. Now a report by a
1 don't mean to throw cold water * the dilemma of Black powerlessness
of
economic
self-sufficiency
and
there
has
been
a
disproportionate
Federal agency confirms that there
on our "good times," but I do mean to
development,
affirmative
action.
We
increase
in
the
cancer
rate
of
Afri­
within
the
electoral
arena
can
be
is, in fact, a serious decline in the
challenge African-Americans to do
need
to
develop
a
better
strategic
can-Americans.
Tuberculosis,
drug-
gained
by
the
move
to
Republican­
overall state of health of the African-
better, much better in terms of our
relationship with that section of the
related deaths, AIDS< pneumonia
ism. Roy Innis, head of CORE, sug­
American community. This phenome­
care and concern for ourselves as a
Hispanic community, the Puerto
and
other
infectious
diseases
have
gested
recently
the
need
to
cultivate
non is directly related to the Reagan
people as we face the necessity to
Ricans and Mexican-Americans, who
all
increased
disproportionately
among
a
bipartisan
approach
to
electoral
administration’s budget cuts in social
survive, build, develop, and contrib­
politics.
For
different
reasons
and
share
a number of common eco­
African-Americans.
and health care programs.
ute towards the future of the race and
employing a different approach, Tony
nomic and social problems with us.
Dr. Arthur H. Hoyte, former D.C.
the world. A sense of PURPOSE is
Brown basically takes the same
But most importantly, we must de­
Of course, African -Americans have Commissioner of public health, stated,
fundamental to who we are as a
position. A larger number of entrepre-
not been the only racial and ethnic
velop a political vehicle and a coher­
"It is really something that might be
people. My view is that Black people
neurially-inclined, younger African-
ent agenda which advocates our inter­
group affected by these policies during reflective of the policies [Reagan]
have the power within us, a spiritual
Americans have already joined the
the last eight years. Latino-Ameri-
ests without reservations or qualifi­
instituted." Ed Pitt, director of health
power, if you will, not only to save
GOP, attempting to reap the poten­
cans, Native Americans and others for the National Urban League, said,
cations.; Neither the Democrats nor
ourselves, but to help lead the world
tial benefits of opportunism and to­
“ There’s a crisis in health care for
also have been severely impacted.
the Republicans can liberate us. We
to unprecendented new levels of
kenism. Most of the new Black Re­
Yet, the report from the National black America, there are a number of
must do so ourselves.
humanity, community, and human
publicans do not support Reagan
Center for Health Statistics verifies conditions that have gone unchecked
A central crisis which character­
achievement. So as we celebrate,
and Bush for ideological reasons.
in the black community that are
izes the white western world today,
that the life expectancy of African-
who we are, what our needs are as a
Unlike the black neoconservatives
especially its educational institutions,
Americans dropped from 69.7 years causing an increase in the death
people, and what our purpose/mis-
Thomas Sowell and glen Loury, they
in 1984 to 69.5 in 1985 to 69.4 in rate.”
is a cultural crisis.
sion is should always be a pari of the
have no ideological commitment to
For centuries, white America and
Like racism, the genocide of a
1986. During this same period, the
celebration. The future will belong to
laissez faire economics or an avowed
western European educational insti­
life expectancy of whites increased people can also be institutionalized.
those who make it!
hatred of affirmative action.
tutions have established their curric­
All Americans should be alarmed at
from 75.3 to 75.4 years.
R O N D A N IE L S
The new Black Republicans sim­
ula and educational assumptions upon
Now all of this may appear to most this serious health crisis in the Afri­
ply recognize that the GOP is basi-
a series of ethnocentric distortions.
people to be only a slight difference can-American community. President­
Creative, talented Black intellectu­
in statistics. Yet, life expectancy is elect George Bush must not con­
als, writers, poets and scientists are
not just a random number; it tells you tinue his predecessor’s devastating
traditionally ignored, while the archi­
how long the average person can policies. All human beings deserve
tects of slavery, racism and eco­
expect to live from birth. Never be­ the right to live long and healthy lives.
nomic oppression are championed.
fore, at least in the last 100 years in We must not allow racism and exploi­
For example, Aristotle, the father of
the United States, has the life expec­ tation to deny this fundamental right
modern western philosophy, was also
tancy of one race declined for two to anyone.
crrv of
the earliest defender of slavery and
PORTLAND, OREGON
the "natural’’ inferiority of slaves and
women. Do the writings of Protestant
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
reformer Martin Luther provide the
sole treatment of religion worthy of
December 29, 1908
study--or should we also turn to the
thoughts of Martin Luther King, Jr.?
OREGON'S OLDEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PUBLICATION
Does Thomas More’s Utopia or the
Established in 1970
Honorable Neil Goldschmidt
leviathan of Thomas Hobbes tell us
Governor of Oregon
Alfred L. Henderson/Publisher
Leon Harris/General Manager
State Capitol
more about politics than the writings
Salem, Oregon 97301
Nyewusi Askari
Gary Ann Garnett
of Frantz Fanon or C.L.R. James?
News Editor
Business Manager
Dear Neil:
Can a young Black woman or man
Mattie
Ann
Callier-Spears
learn better about life by reading a
Joyce Washington
I am writing to add my voice to those protesting the Emergency
Religion Editor
Sales/Markeling Director
Board's appalling decision to close the ALbina Human Resources
white novelist, or by reading Toni
[ CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL
Dangers To African-American
Life Expectancy
Black Elected
Official Responds
ERVER
PORTL
Center administrative unit and lay off all seven employees.
Marie Decuir
Ruby Reuben
Richard Medina
Rose Marie Davis
Sales Representative
Photo-Composition
B. Gayle Jackson
Lonnie Wells
the Color Line" appears in 140 news­
papers.
I
The cuts proposed by Kevin Concannon, your Department of Human
Resources director, and approved by the legislative Emergency
Board, will serve only to tleepen the feelings of isolation and
abandonment in the community.
Circulation Manager
Comptroller
I
!l
This is a critical time for Northeast Portland residents and the
neighborhoods they are trying desperately to hold together. It
is a time when government should be enhancing programs in this
area, not cutting them.
Photographer
Sales Representative
Morrison, Alice Walker or R ichard/
Wright? Which is more relevant to an-
understanding of humanity, Plato or
W.E.B. Dubois?
When education reflects the my-:"
thology that the white west has cre­
ated for itself, the answers to these
questions become obvious. The
curriculum in traditionally white,
mainstream environments reinforces'
ethnocentrism and an ignorance o f;
the cultural and intellectual creativity
of nonwhites.
Black and progressive educators
have long recognized that the cul­
tural battleground is absolutely deci­
sive in the broader political and eco­
nomic empowerment of oppressed
people. The values which are taught
to our children largely determine their'
behavior. If a people are not seen as
active creators of culture, playing ;
significant roles within history, they
will be ignored within our children's
textbooks and classes.
In America, our economic system
rewards people who possess certain
values and styles of behavior, such'
as aggressiveness, competitiveness,
initiative, and individualism, but in
their most extreme form, reinforced
by the constant quest for dollars,
such values in people deteriorate
into greed and materialism. Culture
becomes anything which can be
marketed for a profit. The media
reflects the lowest level of public
awareness and political discussion-
"trash tv,” symbolized by Geraldo
Rivera, is the logical result. Sexuality •
all too often becomes simply a com­
modity, an item which can be bought
and sold. Religion becomes mar­
keted by gradulent, hypocritical
televangelists,seeking dollars and
wealth more than the salvation of
souls.
The cultural conflict is waged most
intensely in the field of education, ‘
and especially on college campuses.
White, conservative traditionalists are
fighting against any changes in the
Western civilization courses, to en-
sure that the next generation of white'
young people is properly indoctri­
nated in reactionary, racist values At
Stanford University, after two years- -
of bitter debate, the faculty senate
voted to overthrow the university's
Western civilization course require­
ment. The new required course in­
cludes readings by people of color.
Stanford’s modest acknowledgement
of nonwhite cultures within its cur­
riculum has been denounced by for­
mer Education Secretary William J.
Bennett, who condemned the uni­
versity for “trashing the classics" and
' I
capitulating to students’ demands.
As America becomes increasingly t
Black, Hispanic and Asian in its
population, academic institutions will
be pressured to change their curric­
ula to reflect the cultural values and
literatures of nonwhites, the phasing
out of the western culture program
foreshadows a more intense future
struggle over faculty and administra­
tive posts, and the entire curriculum
as well. As students begin to read
DuBois, Baldwin, Hurston, Robeson
and others, they inevitably acquire a
critical perspective on racial issues,
which assumes a linkage between
scholarship and social reform. Art,
music, and literature for Afro-Ameri­
cans is also a critique of injustice and I
racism.
Dr. Manning Marable is unairper-
Chairper- ,
son of the Department of Black Stud- j]
ies, Ohio State University. "Along
'
PORTLAND OBSERVER
I know these arc not easy times for governments, but they ore .
oven less easy for the people who depend on government for their
very survival.
is published weekly by Exie Publishing Company. Inc.
525 N E Klllingsworlh SI • Portland Oregon 97211
P O Box 3137 • Portland Oregon 97208
(503) 288-0033 (Office)
¿lease--reconsider this ill-timed and totally inappropriate
action.
Deadlines lor all submitted materials
Articles Monday. 5 p m Ada Tuesday 5 p m
The PORTLANO OBSERVER welcomes Ireelanca submissions Manuscripts and photographs should be clearly
labeled and will be relumed if accompanied by a sall addrassed anyelopa All created designed display ads
become the sole property ot this newspaper and can nol be used in other publications or personal usage without
the written consent ot the general manager, unless the client has purchased the composition ot such sd
Sincerely,
Subscriptions 120 00 per year In the TrhCounty area
Trfo PORTLANO OBSERVER — Oregon’» oldest Atrlcen-Americen Publication — is a member ot
The National Newspaper Association — Founded in 1885. The Oregon Newspaper Publlahers
Association and The National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers Inc . New
York
Dick Bogle, Commissioner
Department of Public Safety
D B :d h
cc:
9
i.f «•.*-< *■»,**.
» * r. * * •
' J
Portland Observer
Kevin Concannon, Department of Human Rcsoun
Tom Darby
¿ X ,- ? ' ’’ ' W
*
*•