Page 2 Portland Observer JUNE 15,1989
GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT JOB
TRAINING
by John E. Jacob
OPINION
CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL
S T A N D IN G FO R T R U T H
by Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.
along the
COLOR LINE
by Dr. Manning Marable
The Challenge of
Democracy
elected officials.
The outbreak o f democracy in
Communist nations has prompted
many conservative critics to argue
that the com petition between social­
ism and capitalism is fin a lly over,
and that capitalism has won. Going
even further, rig h tw in g ideologue
Michael Novak, insisted recently that
the socialist-inspired “ dream of
economic equality does not w ork.”
Since the a bilities o f each human
being are different, N ovak argued in
Forges magazine, each individual must
receive different rewards. “ Justice
seems to demand d iversity, not uni­
formity, in rewards, “ Novak declared.
“ The dream o f economic equality
for a ll is not attainable.”
Progressives in America have much
to learn from the Soviet experiment
in glasnost and from the Chinese stu­
dents’ quest fo r democracy, fo r such
examples leach us that there are many
different roads to democracy. But
when conservative c ritics te ll us that
such efforts disprove the necessity
for equality o f m aterial conditions,
we accept such a judgm ent at our
peril. For i f the c iv il rights move­
ment against racial segregation taught
us anything, we should have learned
that the greater vision o f democracy
cannot be fu lfille d sim ply by p rovid­
ing an integrated cup o f coffee, or
laws which perm it Blacks to attend
w hites-only schools. A viable de­
mocracy cannot exist in w hich 20
m illio n Americans go to bed hungry
each night, and 37 m illio n lack any
type o f health or dental insurance.
Democracy is not a thing, it is a
process o f expanding opportunities
for a ll citizens, and their a b ility to
control decision m aking from the
bottom up.
This requires certain prerequistes
for a decent life fo r a ll w ith in the
political s o c ie ty -fu ll employment,
decent housing, education, health care,
and so forth. The battle fo r fu ll de­
mocracy leads d ire c tly and inevita­
bly toward the promise o f economic
equality. The challenge fo r a ll de­
The Adm inistration has found serious flaws in the Job Training partner­
In the early m orning hours o f August 31, 1988 , Khotso House, the
ship A ct and is m oving to remedy them. But m o re -a lot m o re -is needed
headquarters o f the South afncan Council o f Churches (SACC) in Johannesburg,
than sim ply patching up the program.
was rocked by one o f the most pow erful bombs used in South A fric a history
O ur economy w ill be handcuffed unless the entire workforce is equipped
Throughout the world today, there
against the freedom movement. It was the supreme irony that the home o f
w ith the skills needed to be productive in the com petitive global market.
is a rising tide o f democracy. In China
That means quality education and training for a ll, especially the disadvan­ the ecumenical C hristian movement in south A frica , whose name Kohotso
during the past month, we have w it­
taged.
means peace in the Sesotho language, should be destroyed by violence. The
nessed more than a m illio n students
But the JTPA doesn’ t reach the most severely disadvantaged-the people explosion at Khotso House marked yet another stage in the crisis that has
and workers who demonstrated on
it was intended to reach. As Labor Secretary Elizabeth Dole told Congress:
engulfed South A frica since 1985. In fact, just six weeks later an arson fire
behalf o f democracy in Tiananmen
“ Funds do not always reach the individuals and areas who need help the gutted two floors at the offices o f the Southern A frican C atholic Bishops
Square in Beijing. The cry for greater
Conference in Pretoria. Indeed, attempts on the lives o f church leaders in
most. In some comm unities it is fe ll that the program does not always result
c iv il liberties and against o ffic ia l
in good jobs and a higher standard o f liv in g .”
South A frica have almost become commonplace and a number o f church
corruption threatened the regime o f
A ll o f the entrants to the program need tra in in g -n o one disputes that. But
leaders have been detained and tortured.
Deng Xiaoping and Prime M inister
Churches and their leaders, o f course, are not the only ones suffering in
it seems that the program skims the most job-ready and ignores the least
L i Peng, and a bloody repression was
prepared and most disadvantaged. For example, although high school
south Africa. Since the im position o f a national “ State o f Em ergency” in
launched. Hundreds were kille d and
dropouts have the highest unemployment rate, the m ajority o f JTPA trainees
June, 1986, thousands have died in unrest-related disturbances. M ore than
wounded.
are high school graduates.
40,000 people have been detained, half o f them children and women. It is
In the Soviet Union, a new legis­
Program operations are paid on the basis o f actual jo b placement, conservatively estimated that over 1,000 South Africans have been convicted
lative process has promoted mass
regardless o f the length o f training. As Congressman Augustus Hawkins as p olitical prisoners. In 1988 alone, 32 organizations were banned and 55
popular approval and participation
pointed out:
popular leaders have been convicted as political prisoners. C learly, the
o f dissidents. A new willingness to
“ That has led to creaming and placing those who seem most job-ready peaceful paths to change are being closed o ff one by one as a part o f a two-
foster ideological and p olitical plu­
and easiest to place, rather than the hard-core unemployed who may have pronged policy by the racist apartheid regime to clamp down hard on anti­
ralism is necessary in order to re­
social, psychological or other problems.”
apartheid activists at home w hile simultaneously convincing these outside
structure the Soviet economy. In Hun­
Congress and the Adm inistration are w orking to reshape the A ct so that South A frica that “ things are changing.”
gary, there are plans to establish a
most participants are dropouts or welfare recipients w ithout basic skills.
We in the United States can not afford to allow ourselves to be fooled by
genuine, m ultiparty state w ithout the
A more focused program w ill reach more o f the people most in need o f this smokescreen. We must jo in in solidarity w ith South A frican Church
permanent dom ination o f the Com­
training, but unless it is adequately funded and designed to reach everyone
leaders who launched a national campaign in South A fric a called “ Standing
m unity Party from the top. And in
in need o f assistance, it w ill fa il to fu lfill the needs o f the disadvantaged or for the T ru th .’ ’ It was shortly after this campaign began, calling fo r a boycott
Poland only days ago, a competitive,
to secure the skilled workforce our economy needs.
o f the elections last fa ll in w hich South Africans were denied an opportunity
democratic election brought many
Given the resources, federal programs have demonstrated they can to vote, that the bom bing o f Khotso House occurred.
advocates o f the Solidarity labor
deliver. The Job Corps, for example, has traditionally trained the most
As a result, a group o f national church representatives in the United
movement into the govemmenL Once
disadvantaged youth. It has a record o f placing about 80 percent o f its
States began organizing a sustained ecumenical response to the plea fo r
outlawed, new S oilidarity is viewed
trainees in jobs or further education-a better record than the JTPA, which
international support w hich came from South A frican church leaders.
as part o f the solution to help resolve
has largely avoided serving the hardest cases.
Church leaders in the United Slates believe that Christians have a special
Poland’s pressing economic programs.
But the Jobs Corps costs more per trainee. T h a t’s why it was unsuccess­ responsibility to advocate fo r people whose oppression is due at least in part
In country after country, people
fu lly targeted for extinction by the Reagan Adm inistration.
to the policies o f our own government. The national C ouncil o f Churches
are demanding a greater degree o f
The real lesson here is that we need to invest whatever it takes to make along w ith other church leaders also organized a national ecumenical
accountability by their political lead­
people productive. In the long run, low er social costs and the higher taxes campaign “ Stand fo r Truth: U n til South A frica is Free” on which they
ers, and more authority to determine
they’ ll pay over w orking lifetim es more than repay the investment.
com m itted themselves to w ork u ntil the people o f South A fric a are free.
state policies. They expect a higher
So patching up the JPTA w on’ t be enough. Congress and the Adm inistra­
June 16 is a special day o f remembrance in the life o f South A frica . On
degree o f eth ical behavior and demo­
tion should turn to a more comprehensive solution to the workforce training
that day in 1976 hundreds o f brave young South Africans were k ille d as they
cratic-decision making. In W ashing­
issue.
peacefully marched to protest the unequal education they were receiving
ton, D.C. the crisis o f ethics brought
Such a solution w ould begin w ith concentrated aid to schools serving
under the apartheid system and to stop the teaching in Afrikaans, the
down
Jim W right, the Speaker o f the
poverty areas, so that our kids get basic skills where they’ re supposed to get
language o f their oppressor, in their schools. Thousands o f bright, articulate
House
o f Representatives, and Tony
th e m - in the public schools. It w ould also include guarantees o f jobs and
young people were forced to flee South Africa as a result o f their participation
Coelho,
Democratic House W hip.
skills training to every young p e rson - w ith stipends to defray their costs,
in what the government called the Soweto uprisings.
Republican
Congressman Donald
and w ith social and counseling services.
This June 16 the “ Stand fo r T ru th ” campaign is sponsoring a special
Lukens
was
recently convicted for
Such a program should have an important role fo r community-based
Lobby Day in Washington,. D.C., where they hope thousands o f Americans
having sexual relations w ith a minor,
organizations w ith a proven a b ility to reach disadvantaged people and train
w ill be meeting w ith their Senators about the proposed sanctions legislation
yet he’ s fig h tin g to maintain his o ffi­ mocracies is not to make the rich
them.
against south A frica. On Saturday June 17, a massive service and ra lly w ill
cial position. Such ethical issues raise richer, but for a ll o f us to greater
No one should see the JTPA changes as the end o f the ro a d -w e need a
be held at the Washington M onument,featuring the Rev. A llan Boesak from
in sharp re lie f the issue o f what c iti­ economic and p o litic a l rights.
w orkforce training system that’s the best in the world.
South Africa,thc Richard Smallwood Singers and other entertainers. Following
zens have a rig ht to expect fsom
the service there w ill be a march to Lafayette park across from the W hite
House to call fo r an end to U.S. support o f apartheid.
I f you really care about our brothers and sisters in South A frica , become
a part o f the “ Stand for the T ru th ” Campaign. Join thousands o f others who
by Dr. Lenora Fulani
are concerned in W ashington,D.C. on June 16-17 and let us remember to
The life and death fig h t to save Adam Abdul-Hakeem (form erly known
western state that allows the sale o f keep our South A frican sisters and brothers in our prayers and in our actions
State Senator B ill M cC oy, D-
o f solidarity.
as
L
arry Davis), the young Black brother who had the guts to speak out
drug paraphernalia. 39 other states
Portland, announced the Oregon state
against
police corruption, is being waged now in the courts.
and the D istrict o f Colum bia have
Senate’s unanimous approval today
The
issue right now is to see that A dam -w hose physical condition is
adopted sim ilar legislation banning
o f legislation making the sale o f drug
deteriorating
rapidly as a result o f the series o f brutal beatings he has
its sale.
paraphernalia illegal.
received
at
the
hands o f prison g uards- gets the medical care he needs so
“ Allow ing merchants to sell bongs,
“ It is not reasonable p olicy to say
urgently.
The
New
Y ork C ity Department o f Correction, w hich administers
crack pipes, and cocaine kits only
“ drugs are illegal, but you can go out
the
Rikers
Island
prison
where Adam is currently being held, says “ nothing
makes our war on drugs tougher to
to a record store or a head shop and
is
w
rong”
w
ith
him
;
his
injuries and symptoms, say the prison authorities,
win, “ McCoy said.” Simply by w alk­
buy devices that are designed o nly to
are
the
consequence
o
f
the
“ reasonable’ ’ force that has to be used in dealing
ing into certain record stores our
enhance the power o f drugs.’ W ith
w
ith
“
d
iffic
u
lt”
prisoners
like Adam Abdual-Hakcem.
children can learn a ll they can about
this b ill we send the clear message
A
dam
’
s
physical
appearance
at a hearing before New Y o rk State Su­
how to use and how to manufacture
that we w on’ t allow businesses to
preme C ourt Justice Richard Lowe earlier this week to determine whether
drugs.”
encourage drug use in any fo rm ,”
he needed to be hospitalized visibly shocked everyone in the courtroom.
M cCoy goes on to say dial the
M cCoy said.
Unable to w alk, this 23 year old young man could not sit upright in his
Supreme C ourt Justice Richard Lowe III today ruled that Adam A bdul-
drug paraphernalia industry condones
Senate B ill 846 prohibits the sale
wheelchair or hold up his head. A fte r blood appeared in his urine, he became
Hakeem’ s personal physician, Dr. Susan Massad M U S T be allowed to
and promotes drug use. He says the
or delivery o f drug paraphernalia. It
unable to urinate for more than two days-sym ptom s that his personal
examine, although not to treat, M r. Abdul-Hakeem on Rikers Island
state
currently
spends
$1.5
b
illio
n
hits violators w ith fines o f S2.000 to
tom orrow , and set a hearing for June 26th at which M r. Abdul-H akeem ’ s physician, who has been legally prevented from treating him , fears may be
dollars combating drug abuse.
S 10,000. The money would be used
signs o f fatal kidney damage caused by the beatings. Adam groaned with
legal defense team can present evidence that his constitutional rights are
The
b
ill
now
moves
to
the
House
to help finance drug treatment pro­
pain throughout the hearing w hile lawyers for the Correction Department
being
denied.
for approval.
grams.
and the c ity ’ s Health and Hospitals Corporation argued that he was fine!
A t the same tim e Judge Low e refused to fin d the Department o f
Currently Oregon is the only
F ina lly Justice Lowe issued an order that Adam be kept at Bellevue Hospital
Corrections in contempt for disregarding his previous order to examine and
fo r tw o days, properly examined and tested, and returned to the court before
treat Adam Abdul-Hakeem for the massive injuries he has incurred from a
being sent back to Rikers.
series o f brutal beatings by prison guards. Today’ s hearing was the result o f
Earlier this week the New Y ork C ity C iv il Rights C oalition hosted a two-
a court order obtained in night court from Judge Richard A . Goldberg this
day forum to discuss how the struggle fo r racial equality in Birm ingham ,
m orning at 3:00 a.m.
M r. Abdul-H akeem ’ s legal team, attorneys Alvaader Frazier and Harry
Alabama can guide the movement toward rac ial equality and harmony in the
Kresky, sought to have him sent directly from the courthouse to a hospital
city o f New York. The guest from New York included some o f the c ity ’ s
OREGON'S OLDEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PUBLICATION
Established In 1970
designated by his private physician, Dr.Susan Massad. Judge Low e refused
most prominent Black leaders, such as Reverend W yatt T. W alker, the
Leon Harrls/General Manager
Alfred L. Henderson/Pubiisher
this request, declaring that their charges that M r. Abdul-Hakeem is being
distinguished educator Dr. Kenneth Clark, and Manhattan Borough Presi­
systematically beaten and tortured arc “ mere allegations.’ ’This order after
dent David D in k in s -w h o is seeking the Democratic Party’ s mayoral
Joyce Washington
Gary Ann Garnett
nomination this year.
M
r.
Abdul-Hakeem,
who
had
been
brought
to
Bellevue
Hospital
on
Thurs­
Sales/Marketing
Director
Business Manager
The meeting took place during the same week that saw the funeral o f
day, June 1st for x-rays, a complete examination and attendant medical
PORTLAND OBSERVER
treatment,
was
refused
admittance
by
Dr.
Paul
Katz,
the
ch
ie
f
o
f
Bellevue’
s
Richard
Luke, a Black man who died as the result o f a beating by public
is published weekly by
Exie Publishing Company, Inc
emergency room medical team, and returned to Rikers Island on a stretcher
housing cops. A few days earlier another Black man, T revor Francis, was
525 N E Kllllngsworth St.
in spite o f the fact that at least one other Bellevue physician and Dr. Massad
thrown to his death from a Harlem rooftop by a city policeman. Were these
Portland. Oregon 97211
P.O. Box 3137
incidents discussed at the c iv il rights conference? No. D id the elected
urged that he be admitted for further tests and treatment. Dr. Katz made his
Portland, Oregon 97208
recommendation in consultation w ith a Department o f Corrections o fficials
o ffic ia ls present raise Adam Abdul-H akccm ’ s name and call for an inves­
and an attorney fo r the department, Joseph Guarino.
tigation into the attempted murder o f one o f our children? No. Is the New
(503) 288-0033 (Office)
The Department o f Corrections failed to present M r. Abdul-Hakeem in
York C ity C iv il Rights C oalition going to take a stand on Adam or do they
Deadlines for all submitted materials:
Articles: Monday, 5 p.m.;Ads Tuesday, 5 p.m.
court today, claim ing that the Bronx youth didn ’ l want to come. * ‘They were
o nly fig h t against injustice after the victim s arc dead? So far establishment
against the blatant violation o f Adam ’ s constitutional rights.
ly in g ,” charged attorney Frazier.“ They d id n ’ t allow him in court because
The PORTLAND OBSERVER «w lcom « treelanc® xubmiMiont. M * n u » a p l, and phoTograph« »houM ba Uaarly
labelad and will ba ralurnad il aooompanad by a aall-addraaaad envelope. All created designed diaplay ada
they don’t want his supporters and public to see that he can no longer walk. ’ ’
AS the chairperson o f the Adam Abdul-Hakeem C oa litio n to Save Our
become in . ,oie p-openy ol the - evn o a p e , and can no. be vaed in o«het publeation. o. penonal vM«ar w,lho£
the written content ot the general manage' unless the c'ient has purchased the
LS twwitwoi IT
“ Adam is bruised around the eye, cannot move one arm and shoulder,
Youth, which has mobilized the com m unity to demand media coverage o f
PORTLAND OBSERVER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT
PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED.
this casc-a key weapon in the fig ht to keep Adam a liv e - I have been calling
can bear no weight on his le ft leg, and is experiencing severe back spasms,
every Black and Latino liberal white elected o ffic ia l in New Y o rk, demand­
Subscriptions 120 00 per year m the Tn-County area
resulting in paralysis o f his lower body, disabling to the point that he cannot
The PORTLANO OBSERVER
Oregon s oldest Afncan American Publication--!» a m entwr oi The National
ing that they do something NO W io save A dam ’ s life. Every one o f them
walk or stand up and has no feeling in the entire left side o f his body,
Newsparer Association - Founded m 1885. The Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association, and The National
depends on votes from the Black com m unity to keep their jobs. I have not
rendering him defenseless against attack,” said Dr. Massad, who has been
Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publehers, Inc.. New York
seen any action yet.
denied access to her patient’ s medical record. “ A dam ’s life is in danger. He
I f Adam Abdul-Hakeem dies, kille d by Correction officers who arc being
has been severely beaten and sustained m ultiple serious injuries. He is being
given a message that they arc accountable to no one, that they can get away
denied necessary medical care in the most flagrant violation o f his human
w ith m urder....if Ricardo Burgos. Adam ’ s young companion w ho has also
rights. The hospital administration is playing politics w ith this young man’ s
come forward to corroborate the grim story o f corrupt cops who recruit our
life and violating every canon o f medical ethics.”
children to traffic drugs and who has been brulually beaten in prison as w ell,
“ The issue before the c o u rt-w h ic h the court refuses to reco gn izc-is the
is kille d because no one in authority is prepared to intervene in the vendetta
life o f Adam Abdul-Hakeem and his friend R icky Burgos w ill live long
the eops arc conducting against these tw o brothers.... their blood w ill be on
enough to tell their story o f the involvem ent o f police officers in drug
the
hands ot those who refused to fight fo r our youth; those who remained
dealing in the 44th precinct in the Bronx and the 34th in Manhattan. We have
silent
w hile the cops went w ilding.
evidence o f this involvem ent and witnesses ready to testify. Apparently the
W c w ill not lorget. And we w ill sec that they pay fo r their cow ardly and
Police and Corrections Department don’t want this inform ation exposed.
murderous silence.
This is a question o f A dam ’ s life and death.
THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES
LEGISLATORS OUTLAW DRUG
PARAPHERNALIA
ADAM ABDUL-HAKEEM (LARRY DAVIS)
PHYSICIAN
ALLOWED TO EXAMINE HIM ON RIKERS
ISLAND;
JUDGE REFUSES TO FIND DEPARTMENT OF*
CORRECTIONS IN CONTEMPT
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