Portland Observer OCTOBER 5, 1989 EWRSSfiT /OPINION by Benjam in F . Chavis, Jr. In the wake o f President Bush’ s qweeh to the General Assembly o f the United Nations, we are alarmed and dismayed that the President o f the United States would invite the terrorist murder o f innocent Angolan women and children to have tea at the White House. No one questions the President’s prerogative to invite whomever he wishes to have a per­ sonal audience. Yet, we do have the right to question the wisdom and the morality of condoning, supporting and encouraging Jonas Savimbi’ s UNIT A terrorists in their merciless acts of vicious brutality and inhu­ manity against the people o f Angola. On October 5, 1989, President Bush w ill welcome Jonas Savimbi to the White House. This embrace o f Savimbi by Bush is tantamount to a hideous crime against humanity. Why? We this position because o f the reality of the situation in Angola at this very moment. Since the historic Obndolite, Zaire agreements between the government o f the People’s Re­ public of Angola led by President Jose Eduardo dos Santos and Jonas Savimbi o f U N IT A before 18 A fr i­ can heads o f state, the cease fire that was declared on June 24, 1989 has repeatedly been violated by U N ITA . Rather than supporting the ceasefire, the Bush Administration in July o f this year pressured the Senate In te lli­ gence Committee to approve an in­ crease of U.S. m ilitary aid to U N IT A lo over 40 m illion dollars. Now hundreds of innocent Angolan c iv il­ ians have been slaughtered by U N ITA as a consequence o f deliberate UNITA attacks on the civilia n population o f Angola. Who bears the responsibil­ ity of these human rights atrocities? Who bears the responsibility for these acts of terrorism? The Bush Adm inistration not only prides itself with taking responsibil­ ity for U N IT A , but recently the U.S. Stale Department reaffirmed its “ vigorous support o f Jonas Savimbi and U N IT A .” The invitation for Savimbi to once again cross the thresh­ old o f the W hite House is but a public testimony o f both the arrogance and the blindness o f the Bush A dm ini­ stration when it comes to Angola in particular and southern A frica in general. Savimbi is scheduled to meet on October 3 and 4 w ith members o f both the House and the Senate. Sena­ tors Dennis DeConcini (D -A Z ) and Jesse Helms (R-NC) w ill be renew­ ing their support o f Savimbi while Congressman DAve McCurdy (D- O K ) w ill be introducing Savimbi to M cCurdy’ s newly-formed Angola Task Force which also supports U N IT A ’ s acts o f violence. Then Savimbi w ill meet w ith Vice Presi­ dent Quayle, C hief o f Staff Sununu and national Security Council Direc­ tor Scowcroft. On October 11,1989 Savimbi w ill be escorted to New York C ity to lecture at the Council o f Foreign Relations. In a recent letter to the Washing­ ton Post, Mrs. Ethel Kennedy wrote, “ Americans should be clear about what we are doing in Angola. It is a conscious policy o f U N IT A to target civilians. We should call an immedi­ ate halt to our policy o f providing support to U N IT A .” Unless there is a massive public outcry from m il­ lions o f Americans throughout this nation, the W hite House cocktail par­ ties w ith Savimbi w ill continue and the suffering o f the people o f Angola w ill be unabated. We call fo r your prayers, we call for your protests and we call for your continued support to build a national movement o f con­ cerned citizens to challenge these continued crimes against the people o f Angola which are crimes against all humanity. f c L0TTB7Y Get in on the Action... SON LOTTERY OREGON sj £ P ity Oregon Lottery's new Sports Action Game. Its exciting, its fun! Details at your Lottery Retailer. Enter this week to play and win! Vantage Point PLAYING BY OUR RULES BUSH INVITES SAVIMBI: A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY THE ROOTS OF RACISM AND THE RISE OF By D r . L e n o ra F u la n i On September 12 David Dinkins became the first Black man in history lo win the Democratic party’s nom i­ nation for mayor o f New York C ity.N ot surprisingly, the white cor­ porate-owned media attributed this historic victory to liberal white vot­ ers. Others are saying that the brutal murder o f 16 year old Yusel Hawk­ ins, a young Black man, by a gang o f white hoodlums three weeks before primary day had translated into a massive “ sympathy” vote for the Black Dcmocrat.But neither o f those explanations is the right one. The fact is that a new movement has come to m aturity in New York C ity -a n independent, Black-led, w orking class-wide political move­ ment which has grown up in the shadow o f the murderously racist, anti-poor administration o f Mayor Ed Koch. This new movement is the future o f progressive politics in New York. The immediate beneficiary o f the new movement is M r. Dinkins and the rest o f the c ity ’ s Democratic Party reformers. That’ s alright. The new movement needs them--for now. But if the new movement remains in­ dependent, and I am committed heart and soul to making sure that it does, it w ill someday soon take over from the reform ers-the parasites who live o ff the righteous anger o f our people. I ran as an independent candidate for mayor in case Dinkins lost the primary. Now 1 am urging New York voters to pull the lever for Dinkins in Novembcr-and the independent New Alliance Party candidates who with M r. Dinkins make up the Dump Koch slate in this year’ s election. I t ’ s an unusual situation. I am on the ballot, at the top o f the NAP line. But I am using my independent can­ didacy, as I have all along, to support M r. Dinkins. I have neither w ith ­ drawn my name-doing so would only lose votes for the other NAP candi­ dates who are running-nor reneged on my promise to work for D inkins’ election i f he won his party’s nom i­ nation. I know that my refusal to play by the rigid “ either you’re in or you’re o ut” rules o f the electoral game w ill annoy the hell out o f many people-from Democratic Party in­ siders to those who believe that the only principled position to have is on the outside, looking in. But my sup­ port, as an independent candidate, REAGANISM for M r. Dinkins, the Democratic nominee, is the essence o f N A P ’ s hallmark “ inside--outside” tactic. Dinkins must win. L ike it or not, this dyed-in-the-wool Democrat is the Dump Koch candidate of the Black and Puerto Rican working class communities in this election. But the die-hard Democrats who are running by Ron Daniels w ith him have nothing to do with dumping Ed Koch-these fake re­ Over the past decade Reaganism formers don’t deserve the time o f and Rcagonomics,as much as any­ day, let alone the votes, o f our people. thing have been responsible fo r the On election day we need to vote rise o f racism in America.However Dump Koch all the way-which means the roots o f racism run deep w ithin pulling the lever fo r Dinkins in the the American character. H istorically Democratic column, then crossing racism has been utilized by the white over the N AP column and voting ruling elite o f America in a sinister independent. We need to make it strategy to divide the masses o f poor very, very clear to Dinkins and the and working people and to exploit Democrats that he is beholden to the those divisions in the interest o f the black and Puerto Rican working class further enrichment and empowerment communities which have been the o f that ruling elite. Because African- base o f the Dump Koch movement Americans have been the explicit since 1981. object and target o f racism the white New York;s Democratic Party re­ population in general has benefited formers, Black and white, have al­ from the suppression and exploita­ ways been the beneficiaries o f the tion o f African-Americans. Black and Puerto Rican-led inde­ A t the psychological level the pendent political movement. Over “ W H IT E O N L Y ” access to public the years, the reformers (Dinkins facilities, transportation, water foun­ among them) have used the intense tains, toilets, cemeteries, schools Anti-Koch sentiment boiling over in neighborhoods and positions o f power the Black and Puerto Rican working was a mean p illar in the structure o f class communities to w in votes away white supremacy. Howeverold “ Jim from regular Democrats, only to shake Crow ’ ’ as the symbol o f segregation hands and make up w ith the machine and discrimination was not just a the morning after election day-w hile psychological bird. The system o f our people are left holding the bag o f segregation in the U.S., as is the case police brutality , o ffic ia l corruption, w ith apartheid in South A frica, was designed to yield substantial benefits and poverty. This year is differenL I plan to accept every invitation to to the oppressor. Though those at the debate with the other candidates, to top benefited most, whites at all lev­ speak as a candidate, and to be inter­ els, not only had the warped psycho­ viewed as a candidate.And I ’ ll use logical satisfaction that comes w ith a every opportunity to campaign for a “ r iv a l." But I have never used my independent candidacies just to get votes. I am building an independent political movement, a movement to empower our people, the Black work­ ing class, and our disempowercd sisters and brothers in the Latino commu­ nity, the Native American commu­ nity, the Asian American commu­ nity, the lesbian and gay community, and the progressive white commu­ nity. It can’ t be done playing the Democrats’ game by the Democrats’ ru le s -ju s t as it can’ t be done the Republicans’ way. We have to make up our own rules, and play to win. P O R TLA N ERVER OREGON LOTTERY SPORTS ACTION OFFICIAL PROGRAM Evera Dates: OCTOBER 8-9.1989 Pacific Time Selection Sun 10/8 Turn to page 2 for Official Program Information on this week's Sports Action Game! FAVORITE IQ ttk m 1 Buffalo 10-ÖOem 3 PHILADELPHIA 10:00am 5 Cincinnati ,000cm 7 Cleveland 1000am 9 MINNESOTA LJJ ' a '.' z J i 11 H ooton 1 1000am 1 13 GREEN BAY J J • a C'SÛ □ 15 CNOOOO t IQQpm 1 17 WASHINGTON 1:00pm 19 ANAHEIM 100pm 21 DENVER lW p m 23 SEATTLE lOOpm 2£> San Francisco PO RT LfiWtJ'OBSERVER OREGON'S OLDEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PUBLICATION Established in 1970 A lfr e d L H«nd«reon/Pubiisher Laon HarrlS/Qeneral Managet O *ry Ann Gamatt Joyce Washington Sales/Ma/keting Director PORTLAND OBSERVER • pubUahed weekly by Erie PuNKhmg Company. Inc S2S N X KJDngswonh St Portend. Oregon 97211 P.O. Bos 3137 Portend. Oregon 97206 (503) 288-0033 (Office) Deadlines lor all submitted materials: Articles Monday, 5 p m ; Ads Tuesday, 5 p m. TW WJRTLMW oeacavia Issswtu a r ia aroparty oi th a r «aa p a p a , and can not ba c a d in other p ubteatron, or personal usage Without P * wd a e a a a a a a rt at the ganarat m anager unta«« the clan t haa purchased the composition ot such ad ig g g PORTIMO OMERVER ALL R O H T S R E S E R V E D R E P R O D U C T IO N IN W H O LE O R IN PA R T W IT H O U T RERitteeiON a h w siteo snloom as Irw U m c« lu b m itn o c t M snuscrpls and photograph* should ba daarty y O ria S a a a r i b a rabanad d ao o o n p a n a d by a ta d -a d d ra tM d anvalopa Ail created designed display ada W 0 .0 0 par year m the T r,C o u n t, area » OeeCRVCR ■■ Oregon s oldest A inoin Amancan PubJtcatton- is a m a n p a , ol The N ato o si * - Eeundad in ISAS Tha Oregon Newspaper Pubtrshers Association, and Tha Natasnat t Pubtahers Inc N ew Von, 8 MIAMI 1 0 D etro t 12 NEW ENGLAND 14 Dellas 16 TAMPA 18 Phoenix 20 A tlanta 22 S anD leao 24 Koreas City 26NEWORLËANS ♦4 ♦b had raided tbc Irish « . Ah t a i grown up w ith the fam ily; he loved Mary and ♦6 she had refused him. Note that African sea-rovers used to raid the British Isles ♦TO for loot and slaves until late in the 18th ♦11 centruy (see p. 10, Rogers, Your His­ tory). ♦6 This type o f northern European ♦6 _______ ___ _____ _ 1Iin 3VV111 interaction with Africans docs not seem CZHI î J à J at all unusual ify o u consider the home- 1 600pm | 27 NEW YORK Í 26 Los Angeles ♦3 base o f these peripatetic navigators. From as early on as 2000 B.C Africans Home teoms are in CAPITAL letters •lith e learn you select b e a n ot ties trie other le a rn 1» soots after odefino the were sailing to Britain and Spain and 'Point Spreod* to the underdog's score, your (election k a winner. establishing tin mines; the metal was Oregon lottery Sports Action Is n o to s s o d a te d v4th. authorized by. or n Sports Action is not associated with, sponsored by, or authorized by the National Football League. UNDERDOG 2 INDIANAPOLIS 4 N ew jersey 6 htTSBURGH U n d e rd o g Point S p re ad * ♦1 ♦3 nomic hard times. In hard times some white people may be inclined to want the economic benefits o f racism to pay off. On the other hand during times o f prosperity overt racism and racial antagonism seem to recede. The historic struggle o f African- Americans for c iv il rights and hu­ man rights which climaxed w ith the “ gains” o f the sixties and seventies wiped out many o f the laws which gave legal sanction to segregation. Indeed the increased access to the ballot provided African-Americans w ith an important tool to employ to project and protect their interest. The movement o f the sixties and seven­ ties also rendered overt racism un­ popular as a publicly sanctioned ingredient in the American charac­ ter. It became impolite to be or seem to be racist to engage in racist activ­ ity. Racism was forced underground. The great ‘ ‘gains” o f the sixties also took place within a period o f enormous prosperity and growth w ithin the American economy; growth which spread the materia! benefits o f the “ good life ” widely virtually every sector o f the American populace. It was as if America could “ afford” racial progress. The reality is however, that ra­ cism remained just below the surface in the American consciousness. Though few would argue that there have not been gains in race relations, racism has been loo deeply ingrained in the culture o f America and its institutions for it to die an easy death. The American system is s till an exploitive system which thrives on the exploitation o f labor and working people both at home and abroad. The sense o f racial superiority, they bene­ power elite in America, in the final analysis, could care less about race, fited materially. When while skin color is used as color, nationality or ethnicity. The the badge to get a mob and other rich and the super-rich care most services and privileges in society, about money and maximum profita­ white people in general benefit. Over b ility , and when racism can be used the years there were instances when to advance their cause they w ill use it some jobs were for W HITES O N LY , w ithout conscience or concern. And and other instances when whites when the American economy fa l­ automatically received much higher tered in the late seventies under the wages for doing exactly the same weight o f high inflation and heavy job. Hence whites developed both unemployment (stagflation) and de­ psychological and material stake in clining, corporate pro fitab ility, the the preservation and perpetration o f stage was set for racism to rear its racism, segregation and discrimina­ head anew. tion. Pul more bluntly, being racist And so it was w ith that the neo­ could be profitable! conservative forces siezed upon these To be sure, rich whites arc never circumstances to bring Reagan into w illin g to pay Black or white w ork­ the presidency, racist images, code ers the fu ll wages they are entitled to words, and attacks on affirm ative for their work. But by giving white action and Black interest were used people a psychological and material for a right wing faction o f the Am eri­ incentive to perpetuate racism, the can power elite to ascend to power. whites at the top conveniently and The subtle and not so subtle image profitably can exploit both the Blacks portrayed was that o f an America and whites lodged at the bottom o f sinking under the burden o f welfare the economic pyramid. Racial an­ cheats, food stamps chiselers and tagonism, therefore, is often most lawless elemcnts-all o f whom were acute when Blacks and whites com­ Black o f course. The tactics were pete for jobs and other opportunity virulent and vicious, and they played benefits eg. education, housing, rec­ to the fears o f white poor and w ork­ reation etc. The level o f racial an­ ing people, and the interests o f big tagonism is usually exacerbated and business (a sad old refrain). Patriot­ i ” »®nsified during periods o f eco- ism, salvation o f country and the red, sponsored by the National Football League. needed to alloy w ith copper to create their magnificent bronze statues. At the other end o f them time spectrum very ancient times up until the 19th we have it from Dumond (History O f centruy. by M cKinley Burt Now, this is indeed odd because, North Afncan ruiers o f Morocco alei- Sorry about that folks, I was wrong; usually, blacks are seen to rig h tfu lly Crs, T rip oli and tunis, "collected’large The Portland Observer's 'M in o rity complain that only their naughty deeds from a„ nalions Business Issue' w ill be published at a accomplishment; are i g n o ^ S o why M Jd ll^rranean -Great Britain paid later date. In the meantime let me take . P . ® . y annual tribute to these Africans, and you on a little excursion. Today, we are aftergainingindependencetheUnited going to speak o f pirates. You heard States continued to pay tribute." right, 'PIRATES'! lopers in the EmeralJ Isles o f Ireland In 1815 Thomas Jefferson launched Once upon a Halloween my mother and the Bonnie braes o f Scotland? As an undeclared war and sent a fleet to bought me a pirate's costume - and usual, the answer is found w ithin the A frica to secure the safety o f American much later, in high school, I learned context o f racism - tnere arc reams o f prisoners. We w ill note that in the that in the West Indies, those Carib­ documented interaction w ith 'M r. customary vein o f racist European bean Isles that produced so many A fr i­ Charlies genes'. writers, these A frican' sailors arc never can greats (from Audubon to Napolcan's In paraticular, let us cite one very revealed as such. But they are dubbed generals), many o f the most fearsome determined A frica n ,' A 1 i Krussa', a sea- "B arba ry Pirates", while the British and notorious buccaneers were A fri­ rover who in 1631 attacked baltimeere . . . „ . . nayy which inflicted infinite piracy can. What I didn't leam at the time was Castle, Ireland and carried o ff Mary, „ n.i inklim „ „ ; , ; „ „ _ .. , , j . . r ■ « - . . . ant mhumanitics upon the seafarers o f that for centuries the most feared raidrs daughter o f sir fineen O Driscoll. All aii nalinn„ » . . . k . ..... a nations (including America) is never and exploders o f the northern Euro­ v Krussa had becncapturcdasachild by . r . her father when A lt’s uncle Nudda SUCh 3 dcn,8rat,"8 f a t ­ pean coasLs' were also African- from her lather when AH s uncle, Nudda, ,on. "H ail the British Lion, Mistress o f Get current Sports Action Information by cattng 1-900646-5666 as they WCF5 know’ proved very troublesome „ Riornans’ two o f whose emper- ers, Hadrian and Antonine, b uilt great walls to keep them out o f England. As late as the 14th century large portions o f the population o f Scotland were Black and many Scotch people still showtf,eir Negro ancestry in their color thcir hair ” A |, Qf tQ f .( * ' lh recorded history. For instance, in the o fficial register o f the Roman administrative system (notitia Digni latum), we find listed among the A fr i­ can troops that Emperor Hadrian brought to Britain, the Numerous Maurorum Aurclianorum' division o f Moors from North Africa. And several weeks ago I described the African faces appearing upon the shields and the CcaLs-of-Arms o f Scottish families - and throughout Europe. This revealing sei ics w ill continue next week (Barbary Pirates indeed).