May 2, 1990. The Portland Observer, Page 5
_______NATIONAL FORUM
Rainbow Lobby Urges Secretary of State Baker
to Help Avert “Repression And Bloodshed”
In Zaire
The executive director o f the Rain
bow Lobby has written to Secretary of
State James Baker to urge that the Bush
administration * * use its considerable in
fluence” with President Mobutu Sese
Seko o f Zaire “ to help avert further
repression and bloodshed” in the cen
tral African country.
Earlier this year Mr. M obutu, whose
25 year old dictatorship is one of the
w orld’s most repressive and corrupt
regimes, inaugurated a “ popular con
sultation” allowing Zairians for virtu
ally the first time in a generation to
express their views publicy. The self-
appointed president for life was seek
ing to mollify his supporters in the Bush
administration and on Capitol Hill, who
have themselves come under increas
ingly strong pressure from the anti-
Mobutu lobby in this country to w ith
draw support from the Mobutu “ klep-
tocracy.” Recognizing that such a move
stemmed from political weakness, Zairi
ans from all walks of life-in clu d in g
students, women, workers, civil ser
vants and a group o f 12 Catholic bish-
o p s-to o k the opportunity to criticize
the regime in the strongest terms, urg
ing the introduction o f a multi-party
democracy while dem anding the disso
lution of the ruling MPR party and the
resignation of Mr. Mobutu; some people
w ent so far as to invoke the fate of
Nicolae Ceausescu.
* ‘The State D epartm ent’s continued
w hitewash o f the M obutu regime is be
ginning to strain credulity,” commented
Nancy Ross, the Rainbow L obby’s ex
ecutive director. “ The people o f Zaire
are dem anding, in louder and louder
voices, dem ocracy and fair e le c tio n s-
precisely w hat the U.S. is supposed to
stand for. O ur continued deference to
the tyrant Mobutu gives him the confi
dence to shoot down peaceful dem on
strators. This adm inistrator is practic
ing a racist double standard: m ulti
party democracy for Eastern Europe
and tyranny for the people o f Southern
A frica.”
With the situation increasingly tense,
the Lobby and other supporters in this
country o f Z aire’s pro-dem ocracy
m ovem ent are concerned that the re
gim e is planning a harsh crackdow n
against participants in a major dem on
stration scheduled to take place in the
Zairian capital o f Kinshasa on April 15.
The State D epartm ent has already con
firmed that at least two people were
killed in a recent dem onstration, and a
spokesperson for the opposition party
Union for Democracy and Social Prog
ress has reported that many university
students have been forcibly removed
from K inshasa and taken to an un
known location.
‘ ‘Given the U.S. governm ent’s long
standing support o f the Mobutu regime,
itis ratherdisengenuous toclaim , as did
one State D epartm ent official, that the
United States cannot influence the be
havior o f the M obutu governm ent,”
Ms. Ross w rote in her letter to Mr.
Baker. “ A public statem ent from the
U.S. governm ent placing M obutu on
notice that his aid package will be in
jeopardy should he crack down on the
dem onstrators could help avert a trag
edy.
“ Recently, a State D epartm ent offi
cial told me that the U.S. cannot pres
sure M obutu without losing ‘credibil
ity,’” Ms. Ross continued. “ W e be
lieve that the responsibility o f our gov
ernm ent is not to maintain its credibil
ity with a brutal and corrupt dictator,
but rather with the Am erican people,
w hodo not wish their tax dollars to fund
this extrem ely repressive and legendar-
ily corrupt regim e, and with the 32
m illion people o f Zaire w hose just
struggles for democracy and fair elec
tions have in the past been frustrated by
U.S. foreign policy. W e urge you to put
Mobutu on notice that we will not toler
ate continued violations o f human and
dem ocratic rights: elim inate all m ili
tary aid (including training) and all
econom ic assistance except for food
aid and developm ent projects carried
out by non-governmental organiza
tions.”
On April 4 the House A ppropria
tions Subcommittee on Foreign O pera
tions heard testimony from Represen
tatives Harold W olpe (D-OH) and
Stephen Solarz (D-NY) as well as from
Ab ukari, w ho heads the Lobby ’ s A frica
Desk, against the continuation of Ameri
can aid to the M obutu regime.
“ W ith the ebbing of the Cold W ar
and the rising worldwide m ovem ent for
political liberalization and dem ocrati
zation . . . we need to distance ourselves
from this governm ent as quickly and as
clearly as possible,” noted Mr. W olpe,
who chairs the Subcom m ittee on Africa
o f the Foreign Affairs Com m ittee.
“ I believe that it is prudent for us to
assume that President Mobutu is no
more popular in Zaire than Ceausescu
was in Rum ania, Honecker was in East
Germ any, Marcos was in the Philip
pines, or Som oza was in N icaragua,
and that sooner or later, M obutu will
g o ,” added Mr. Solarz. “ W hen that
tim e com es, it will not be in our interest
to have been perceived as propping up
this discredited dictator.”
37th Annual
Lincoln University of Missouri
NiTY
A wards I n M edia
Honoring the best
in handicapped and minority affairs reporting
It is the “ Pulitzer Prize” o f m inority
and handicapped reporting ... the Unity
A w ards in M edia sponsored by Lincoln
U niversity.
O n M onday, April 30, 1990, the 37th
annual UA1M will pay tribute to 42
jo u m alistsd cd icalcd tocnlightcning the
nation on critical issues facing m in o ri
ties and the handicapped.
UAIM is enriched in tradition. The
program was founded in 1949 for the
purpose o f acquainting black university
and high school students w ith profes
sionals. T he program , know n then as
H eadliner, also prom oted m edia cover
age o f m inority affairs.
T hrough the years the program p ro
gressed from a student aw ards c ere
m ony to that o f recognizing o u tstand
ing professionals reporting on m inority
and handicapped issues.
m ony. T he aw ards program will be
follow ed by a cocktail hour and dinner.
D uring the day, university students,
high school students and professionals
in the Field o f journalism will interact in
various print, radio and television w ork
shops.
G regory B. Freem an, assistant city
editor and colum nist for the St. Louis
P ost-D ispatch, will present the convo
cation address.
K ansas City C all journalist Donna
Stew art will receive the alum ni award
and will address the UAIM luncheon.
R adio pioneer Jack "T he R apper”
G ibson will serve as m aster o f cerem o
nies.
For m ore inform ation telephone (314)
681-5114.
T h is year nearly 170 entries from
across the nation w ere ju dged in the
divisions o f Print: G eneral A udience;
Print: M inority A udience; B roadcast
ing: Radio; and Broadcasting: T e le v i
sion.
M ai Goode, affectionately called the "Dean" of
black professional broadcast Journalism, delivered
last year's U A IM Convocation address.
Six categories w ere judged, includ
ing reporting o f econom ics, education,
politics, public/social affairs, investi
gative reporting and editorial w riting.
Single entries or scries w ere accepted.
For the second straight year the plush
Capitol Plaza Hotel in dow ntow n Jef
ferson City will provide the setting for
the aw ards banquet. T he festivities will
begin at 6 p.m with lite aw ards ccrc-
Carmen Fields, »ward winning anchor of W G B H -
T V in Boston, receives the Distinguished Alumnus
Award from Lincoln University President Dr.
Wendell G. Rayburn at last year's U A IM banquet.
Say You Saw It In The . . . .
Portland Observer
Support Our Advertisers
We Can't Spell S_ccess Without UH!
New Humanist Declaration Issued
By Black Leaders
A new Declaration defending the
need for humanism in the African-
American com m unity has just been
released. It has been issued by a newly
formed group, African American for
Humanism (AAH). It affirm s that the
Black com m unity has been am ong the
most religious com m unities in A m er
ica, yet crim e, drugs, violence, unem
ployment, econom ic deprivation, and
despair perm eate m uch o f that com m u
nity. The Declaration asserts that the
African-American com m unity needs to
take radically new directions. It af
firms that w hat is essential is the need
for a critical, rational, and hum ane
approach to living.
The Declaration was endorsed by
many notable Black leaders including:
Ishmael Jaffree, the attorney who gained
national recognition by winning a Su
preme Court case in which prayer was
prohibited in M obile, A labam a schools
(Jaffree now practices law in Y oung
stown, Ohio); Dr. Charles Faulkner,
nationally syndicated columnist, W ash
ington, D.C.; Norman Hill, human rights
activist, New Y ork City; and James
Moss, psychiatrist, New York City.
The D eclaration lists im portant hu
manistic principles to be observed in
cluding:
A com m itm ent to the application of
reason, science, and critical thinking to
the solving o f hum an problem s.
A concern w ith securing justice and
fairness in society.
An em phasis on improving life here
and now and in developing the individ
ual’s creative talents to their fullest.
A belief in the cultivation o f m o ra l1
excellence.
Skepticism tow ard untested claim s»
to knowledge.
A commitment to the application of reason, science, and
critical thinking to the solving of human problems.
A concern with securing justice and fairness in society.
An emphasis on improving life here and now and in
developing the individual’s creative talents to their fullest.
A belief in the cultivation of moral excellence.
Skepticism toward untested claims to knowledge.
Openness toward new ideas.
The need for optimism rather than pessimism, hope rather
than despair, and learning in the place of dogma.
Humanistic principles from The Declaration
confront A frican-A m ericans through
education and self-reliance.
The need to develop self-help im
provem ent groups.
The need to em phasize the central
im portance o f education at all levels,
including humanistic education, devel
oping a humanistic outlook, but espe
cially improving the tools for the devel
opm ent o f critical reason in self-im
provem ent and career training.
The Declaration was drafted by Norm
Allen, executive director o f AAH. A
full copy o f the D eclaration and a par
tial list o f the board m em bers o f AAH is
attached. Perm ission to reprint the
D eclaration or to excerpt is hereby
granted. The D eclaration is published
in the Spring issue of Free Inquiry maga
zine.
Do You Have What It Takes to Start
Your Own Business?
37th Annual Unity
Awards In Media
Jefferson City, M O -T h e best in report
ing o f minority affairs and handicapped
issues will be honored during the 37th
Annual Lincoln University Awards in
Media, April 30, 1990. This year, 42
journalists from a field on 170 nation
wide entrants will receive their first
place trophies for outstanding journal
ism.
The day-long program will feature
workshops in both print and broadcast
journalism . The day’s activities will be
capped with the awards cerem ony and
dinner hosted at the Capitol Plaza Ho
tel.
Three distinguished journalists will
add their talents to the activities. G re
gory B. Freeman, A ssistant City Editor
& Colum nist for the St. Louis Post
Dispatch will deliver the convocation
address. Kansas City Call reporter,
Donna Stewart, will address the lunch
eon program . Jack “ The R apper”
G ibson, a pioneer in Black oriented
radio, will serve as m aster o f cerem o
nies during the Awards B anquet
O penness tow ard new ideas.
The need for optim ism rather than
pessim ism , hope rather than despair,
and learning in the place of dogma.
The Declaration also examines some
o f the m oral dilem m as plaguing the
A frican-A m erican com m unity includ
ing unwanted pregnancy, health con
cerns, and substance abuse. T he need
to develop self-esteem is also stressed.
The Declaration recommends the fol
lowing aim s for the Black community:
The need to develop an appreciation
for the great cultural contributions made
by people o f African descent to the
world.
The need to oppose racism .
The need to cultivate “ w isdom and
good conduct in living” by using the
scientific and rational m ethods of in
quiry.
The need to solve problem s that
New home video released to
help would-be entrepreneurs
The award winning producers o f the
nationally televised financial affairs se
ries entitled, “ In the Black: Keys to
Success” , which airs over superstation
W W O R-TV (Channel 9), and the pro
ducers of die home video entided, “ Your
Personal Financial Guide to Success,
Pow er & Security” , will distribute a
new two hour video guide entided, “ How
to Start Your Own Successful Busi
ness” . Learn how to effectively:
Start, market and manage your own
business, set up financing, analyze busi
ness insurance needs, buy an existing
business, evaluate franchising opportu
nities, set up a Home Based Business or
Youth Entrepreneurial program , nego
tiate a deal and protect your ideals. In
addition, we also highlight successful
entrepreneurs w ho share their keys to
success, plus much more.
Caroline R. Jones (Caroline Jones
Advertising) a leading m arketing ex
ecutive and host o f the nationally tele
vised series, is hosting this Entrepre
neurial video which also features on-
location reporters. Each cassette which
retails for $29.95 plus $4.00 shipping
and handling, will also include a free
Entrepreneurial workbook provided by
M etropolitan Life Insurance Co. as a
bonus.
You can order this cassette by send
ing a check or money order to: In The
Black Productions Inc., P .O .B ox 1229,
New Y ork.N ew York 10185. Forcredit
card orders, fundraising and distribu
tion opportunities call toll free 1-800-
433-8096. A portion o f the proceeds
will go toward the National Entrepre
neurial Youth Education P ro je c t
A Tribute
To Black Mothers
Presented
In recognition o f the month in
which all mothers are honored and
rem em bered the m o st 12 rem ark
able women o f courage and strength
are featured as part o f “ A Tribute To
Black M others” in the May Ebony.
Each demonstrating their own dis
tinctive brand o f “ m other love” ,
these Black m others, whether the
actual biological parents, or just
special individuals who mothered
som eone along the way, are selfless
nurturers w ho’vc mastered the art of
love and giving. “ I want to be a
strong m other,” says Alison Leland,
w idow o f Rep. George (M ickey) L e
land, and the m other o f three sons.
“ But I w ant to balance that with a
strong sense o f their father, so they
will have a strong sense o f them
selves,” she adds.
A Houston investment banker,
Ms. Leland has assumed the task of
raising their son Jarrett, 4, and his
twin brothers as a single mother.
O ther Black mothers profiled in
clude Mrs. Corctta Scott King, Ms.
Betty Shabazz, M other Clara Hale
and poet G w endolyn Brooks.
Alison Leland, widow of the late Congressman Mickey Leland, and
their four-year old son, Jarrett, highlight Ebony's "Tribute To
Black Mothers."
CREED OF THE BLACK PRESS
5
Not every I hi ng is worthy
fspeech, though all is worthy
)f thought.
The Black Press believe, that Am erica can best lead the w orld away tra m social and
national antagonisms when It accords to every person, regardless of race, color, or
creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person, the Black
Press strives to help every person In the firm belief that all are h u rt as long as anyone
Is held back.
I