Page 2 Portland Observer NOVEMBER 9, 1989 HSTÖfflH. üfWÖR lilis W in Power For The Black Majority Is The Goal In South Africa The Rocks Cried Out, No Hiding Place by Professor McKinley Burt That is what the Black poet said about his trip "down to the river to hide my face ." And, indeed, there is noplace to hide our faces from the pressing need to redouble the effort to secure a proper representation of our youth in Oregon's system of higher education. While the advantages o f the "Black College" were recognized last week, it was also put, on balance, that the pre­ requisite for maintaining and building a more viable Black community depends upon retaining and educating a sizeable cadre o f talented youth at home. Given the present circumstances o f Black edu­ cation in the state-from K1 to graduate program s-there can be no underestima­ tion of the resolve, resources and ener­ gies needed to bring about change. A good question, of course, is W here do you sta rt? ', since, as described above, the system is vertical and has traumas all along the line feeding into higher educa­ tion. Let me cite that old adage, "Let down your bucket where you are." If you are already involved, redouble your ef­ forts, and if not change your ways—the next vicums of the system may be your next burglars, or the new pushers on the block. I make no clarion call for the immediate creation of a "Higher Educa­ tion Task Force." That may be alright down the line but would require careful structuring. I have had occassional bad experience with band wagon Blacks who seek only media attention, or with those whose contributions are stifled because they are establishm ent-owned, dispatched into the fray as gate keepers. The following is typical of problems faced by Black students of Oregon's institutions of higher learning. The trau­ matic experience of Ms. Tay Johnson, a 1986 graduate of Oregon State Unives- ity: Earning a degree in Business and Computer Science, she was notified two days before leaving campus that she lacked a key credit for graduation--not true of course, this was a reprisal for ( frequent visits by her parents to protest racism and harassment; on the very first day o f a calculus class she was told "no way you can expect an A in here." Signs tacked on door of dormitory room, "Nigger go home." There was an attempt to run down both Miss Johnson and another Black coed with a pickup truck by two cursing white males. This is where the community needs to come into play for repeated appeals to the dormitory matron and the President of the University were to little avail. These events may be cited as not un­ usual, though at those institutions. Where they do not frequently occur, we find a no-nonsense university president-we have stated before that there has to be com m itm ent at the top, citing both aca­ demia and affirmative action. The Black personnel at these schools may be under various forms of discrimination or du­ ress themselves, whether in teaching or support areas, so it is always problemati­ cal that issues are being addressed. Additionally, there are compelling issues of an urgency that applies to both Black and white students. Writer Eliza­ beth Wallace pul them very well in the Oregonian's Forum section, Sunday, October 29. Among other things, "Stu­ dents need recommendations for jobs and graduate schools from faculty who know their work well. Turnover of part- time instructors is high." There are many other across-the-board disabilities of the system which require the intervention of that "skilled and advantaged" segment I have mentioned. A vivid recital of racist scenarios can be abstracted from my 12 years of faculty experience at Portland State University. Not so much that tnese con­ frontations were distinctly different from events occurring at other institutions, but that the recitation is of personal involvement, not hearsay. Next week I'll detail how faculty predudice and games can destroy a student, and how these attitudes can spill over into areas that are nonacademic but nevertheless crucial to a student's performance. Unbelievable? Believe me! Journal j Immigration In Los Angeles by Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. Now that a new Commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturaliza­ tion Service (INS) has finally been con­ firmed, it is hoped that the cries of thou­ sands of persons seeking immigration or an adjustment in their INS status will receive timely and fair responses. There have been many allegations concerning racism and discrimination involving the process of immigration to the United States, particularly for those persons from Latin American, African and other na­ tions from the developing world. In addition, there has been gross discrimi­ nation aimed particularly at undocu­ mented workers who labor throughout the nation under often difficul t and inhu­ man standards. The news from the city of Los Angeles concerning current U.S. Immi­ gration laws and the plight of undocu­ mented workers sheds a ray o f hope for thousands. Los Angeles has taken the lead on this issue by establishing a for­ mal program to help find jobs for day laborers, most of whom are undocu­ mented workers whom the U.S. Immi­ gration and Naturalization Service would like to deport. Most of the workers in this pilot program are Hispanic. the finding of jobs for day laborers "is technically legal despite its clear chal­ lenge to the 1986 Immigration Law, under which it is illegal to hire illegal aliens." In many cities the INS has car­ ried out raids on sites where day laborers gather. To be sure, the present policies and laws on immigration need to be made more humane as well as the en­ forcement of present immigration re­ strictions needs to be done even handedly and fairly without racial discrimination. by Ron Daniels The noted African-American abo­ litionist and freedom fighter Frederick Douglass once warned that "power con­ cedes nothing without demand, it never has and it never will." Throughout the southern Africa region power is yielding before the onslaught of determined demand. As the struggle for liberation reaches its climatic phase, it may be useful to remind ourselves that the real goal in the region is power, and the ability to control land and resources in the interest of the people. In South Af­ rica in particular, the fight is not for integration, but for Black Power (Black majority rule). This is what the illegal regime in South Africa fears most, and has fought fiercely to prevent through­ out the region. The final countdown on this heinous regime, however, is clearly underway. The winds of change are blowing briskly throughout the southern Africa region. Angolan troops backed by their Cuban allies battered South African forces and blunted their incursion into soveri- egn Angolan territory in the battle of Cuitoqunauale. The defeated South African troops withdrew and South Af­ rica sued for peace. Recently the world witnessed the historic picture of Sam NJumo, President of the South West A frican People's O rganization (S.W.A.P.O.), kissing the ground of his native land upon his return to Namibia after thirty years in exile. The liberation struggle has produced a victory which has paved the way for free elections; elections which S.W.A.P.O. is expected to win. With S.W.A.P.O.'s ascenion to power, the people will be able to control their own destiny. The illegal racist minority regime in South Africa has suffered yet another defeat, and now is compelled to retreat to the confines of South Africa itself where it must face the stark reality of the growing demand for Black majority rule. South Africa is increasingly isolated. The massive unending struggle by liberation forces inside South Africa, the tightening vise of worldwide economic sanctions, and the pervasive pressure of unfavorable world public opinion is forcing change in South Africa - the last bastion of white supremacist ideology and rule on the African continent. De­ spite the regime's boast to the contrary, sanctions have had a telling effect as has the constant instability cuased by strikes, mass protests, boycotts and armed struggle. The "outlawed" African Na­ tional Congress will not die. In the face of the regime's awesome military arse­ nal, against incredible odds, the power of the people is prevailing. It is necessary to caution, however, Many cities particularly in Texas, Illinois, Florida, New York and in Cali­ fornia will be monitoring the Los Ange­ les experiment. The success of this proj­ ect may provide a unique bridge to change some of the other discriminatory prac­ tices of the Immigration and Naturaliza­ tion Service. • -V ' ’ A I'.4» k . raigW -i«*? 4.*% ' ERVER OREGON'S OLDEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PUBLICATION Established In 1970 Allred L. Hendereon/Pubtisher L eo n Harrls/Goneral Managor Gary Ann Garnett Joyce Washington Business Managor Sales/Markoling Director PO R TLA N D O BSER VER la published weekly by E«le Publishing Company, Inc. 4747 N X M . L . K . BI» * • • * * The recent release of Walter Sisulu and seven other political prisoners was timed to forestall a further call for sanc­ tions within the British Commonwealth. It is no secret that the "liberal" new President F.W. de Klerk and others within the regime also hoped that the release of the political prisoners would create a split within A.N.C. between the older leaders, and the leadership which has emerged during the long period of im­ prisonment of Mandela and Sisulu. However, Waller Sisula was quick to dash these hopes by declaring that there would be only one A.N.C. Sisulu also issued a call for a united front among all elements of the liberation movement in South Africa - bad news for a regime hoping to cling to power. This desperate effort to retain power is bound to con­ tinue. There is simply too much wealth at stake for the privileged minority. In this final dangerous phase of the liberation struggle in South Africa, nei­ ther the A.N.C. or its many friends, allies and supporters abroad can afford to be co-opted or lulled to sleep by the cosmetic changes that will be offered up to appease the Black majority in South Africa. On the contrary inside South Africa and throughout the world the political and economic pressure must be intensified. In the United States the free South Africa movement must increase the pressure for black majority rule, thereby strengthening the hand of A.N.C. and the liberation forces inside South Africa. Progressives and freedom fight­ ers everywhere must keep their eyes on the real prize - POWER for the Black majority in South Africa! PO R TLfl We agree with many immigration rights organizations that all laborers in this nation should be treated with dignity and respect. We caution the INS not to attack the outreach of the city of Los Angeles to members of its community who simply want to work and have de­ cent living conditions. We agree with the Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights based in Los Angeles as they have challenged the hypocrisy and racism of current U.S. immigration procedures. Ms. Linda Mitchell of the Coalition has stated, "you can either hunt them down or you can integrate them into your community . . . if you deny them health care- school­ ing and the right to work, you will just further improverish them.” * ? -•, t ' a, that power seeks to preserve itself at all costs. And so it will be will the regime in South Africa. Having failed to brutalize the people into submission through the rein of terror unleashed under the state of emergency, the regime will next seek to emply co-optation, and divide and conquer strategies to achieve an accom­ modation which is most favorable to its own interest. That interest is plain and simple - to maintain maximum control over the gold, diamonds, uranium, cop­ per, platinum, nickle, chrome, tungsten - the land, resources, and wealth. The regimes first ploy will be to make a few superfluous changes in order to preserve this vital interest Hence the barriers of apartheid or segregation are already being gradually removed. Total integration is likely to be a reality in the not too distant future, as the minority regime seeks to pacify the Black majority by wiping out the laws which have heaped indignities on Black people for decades in their own land. Even inter-racial dating and mar­ riage, the most dread images of social relations from the perspective of the segregationists, will soon come to be tolerated. What will be viewed as intolerable and unacceptable is integration into real political and economic power.. The regime will try virtually anything to cling to power. Th» PORTLAND OBSERVER watoomas freelance submissions. M in u t a g li and photograph* thould ba death labeled and will ba ralurnad il accompanied by a seDaddrassad envalope Alt creeled designed du p la, ad* become tha iole prepari, ol lha r awspaper and can not ba used In other publcMions or parsonsl u , . u, without the written content ol the general manager. unlasa the client ha* purchased lha conpotlion ol such ad I BBS PORTIAMO OBSERVER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIOITEO. Subscriptions: 120.00 par year In tha Tit-CawM, area. Tha PORTLAND OOSERVER - Oregon'* oldest Alocan Amanean Publication-is a member el Tha National Newspaper Aasocsalion - Founded in IM S . Th* Oregon Nam papar Publr.hei* Association, and Th* Na|onal Advertissrg Raptasemalnre Amalgamated PuMishars. Ina.. New Yadt. PORTLAND OBSERVER 'The Eyes and Ears o f the Community" O ffice: (503) 2 8 8 -0 0 3 3 FAX #: (503) 2 8 8 -0 0 1 5 I. ¿ft'.,' i.Jtz V -áíjK ' 1 e p / . < A p * p Aj a / / * * . '/« • r fo r Black E m pow erm ent A New Black Agenda For A New Generation television) that the Democratic Party by Dr. Lenora Fulani leadership would continue to insult our Recently the Black Student Union leaders, reject our Agenda, and exclude at the State University of New York in our people while taking our votes for New Paltz invited me to be the "Speaker granted. of the Month." It always gives me Internationally, we are witnessing a enormous pleasure to speak to young new "rapprochement," or coming together, people because, unlike many of their between the United States, the Soviet elders, they have not yet learned to be Union and China similar to the "unity" cynical. that the establishment African-Ameri- Our young men and women repre- can leadership has arranged with the sent a new generation of Black voters, Democratic Party. Yet these arrange- who stand on the brink not only of a new ments exclude the masses of the world"s decade but of a new political era. And people, who do not benefit economi- for that, a new Black Agenda is called cally, politically, culturally or in any ,or other way from the deals that are being Il s not that all of the old problems CU[ .. supposedly in our name, have been solved - far from it. The What about the 30 million Zairians, cancer of apartheid still eats away at the for example -- whose children are dying bodies and souls of our African sisters o f hunger while their self-appointed and brothers. Here in the United States president for life, a multi-billionaire police brutality, poverty and racism are named Mobutu Sese Seko, is being pro­ still very much with us. A recent govern- motcd by the Bush administration (and ment report says that although the health some Black most notabl of the overall American population is California Congressman Mervyn Dy- improving, there is a continuing dispar- mally) the ”statesman« responsible ity in the death and illness rates of Blacks for negotiating the peace accords (which and whites: m 1987 life expectancy for already collapsing) lhe wh.te Americans was 75.6 years, 69.4 popularly elected government of An- years for Blacks; being Black and poor gola and South African/CIA-subsi- in white America still kills us way be- dizeij UNITA terrorists led by Jonas fore time. Savimbi? But we are in a new phase of the struggle, the struggle for economic Zaire is at the top of the new Black democracy, and for that we need new Agenda. It is inseparable from the fight tactics — new weapons. The old tactics f°r ^a*r eketions >n this country. Be- aren't adequate because they don't take political process is opened into account everything that's happened UP 1° new v0*ces and new views -- the since they were first devised. I am talk- v0*ces the views of the left out, the ing about the enactment during the '60s disenfranchised, the disinherited — the ofcivil rights legislation that we paid for professional politicians of the major in blood . . . and the fact that today, a Parties wil1 continue to monopolize the generation later, although we have fi- political dialogue. And that means only nally won the legal right to vote, the l^e old" problems, with their "old" so- masscs of our people still do not feel lutions, will be allowed a hearing: South they have a reason to go to the polls. Africa, yes; Zaire, no. Democratic Party politics, yes; independent politics, no. I am talking about the fact that 17 years after the 1972 National Black I believe that only an independent, Political Convention in Gary, Indiana — Black-led and multi-racial political party which rejected the option of building an committed to people instead of profits independent Black party in favor of a can open up and democratize thazt po- strategy that focused on increasing the litical process . . . the major parties, number of Black elected officials, mainly committed as they are to perpetuating through the Democratic Party - we have the right of white corporate America to seen their number increase by 365%, yet make a profit by any means, are far more the masses of our people have little to concerned with closing down the dia- show for that "success." logue. I am talking about Reverend Jesse Zaire, fair elections, the struggle Jackson's historic Presidential campaigns for economic democracy - these are the 1984 and 1988, which galvanized the issues for the new Black Agenda that our Black community and our allies among new generation confronts. The young other people of color and progressive people that I am speaking to are down. whites — and showed us (on national Are you? New Group Forms To Fight Legal Drugging The Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Oregon recently established a new Chapter North Portland. The North Portland Chapter will fight Ritalin and other psychiatric drug abuses in that area. "There has been a tremendous outcry over the street drug problems in our area, but what so many people d o n ’t realize is that many of today's psychiatric drugs are very addictive and in many cases do not help the individual." Dana Popick the North Portland Director claimed Jessica Allen, Assistant Director stated,’ "The Black Community as well as elderly and low income families are very often hit hard by this particular psychiatric abuse because government funding has made psychiatric programs readily available, the most common t r e a t m e n t of mental ailments today todav is 1 r drugs first, discussion later or never. On a Statewide level, the largest number of psychiatric abuses comes from these areas." The 1989-90 Oregon Media Guide is now available. The media guide lists newspapers and publica­ tions, radio, cable and television sta­ tions that accept news, articles and public service announcements. Could you se some free publicity for your agency or event? Indexes help you target areas of special interest. A "How- Regional, Madia A City Uatlnga To" section will help you get started. Addraaa, Phone and FAX Numbers Contact the Center for Urban Educa­ Owners, Publishers, Directors & Managsri tion, at 223-3444 to order your Ore­ Deadlines and Formata Accepted "How-To” Section gon Media Guide. This is the eighth bi-annual Oregon Media Guide, done by Center for Urban Education, 3835 S.W. Kelly, Portland, OR 97201. A resource book for those seeking publicity or needing access to the various media throughout the stale. Resources included have confirmed having some public access availability. 7 ” ■ , T - ''" '. ?