Page 2 The Portland Observer June 20, 1990
ESSENCE PUBLISHER
NAMED TO
TRANSAFRICA BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
"The Play is the Thing"
or Back to the Future
By Professor M cK inley Burt
When Shakespeare has his charac­
ter say, ‘ ‘The play is the thing,” there is
hardly a degree of distinction between
that insight and Marshall McLuan’s
famed statement, ‘‘The medium is the
messae.” Here, a playwright and a
linguist, respectively, are each telling
us what must be perceived about life by
a person who hopes to become truly
educated. And that is, never mind the
rhetoric or confusing verbiage that flows
from the mouth of the politician, phi­
losopher or scientist-or textbook-but,
seek the meaning from the “ action” or
role of the actor (even if it is an elec­
tron).
The phrase “ Back to the future”
speaks of a relevant direction for the
education of fricn American youth if it
would meet the stringent demands of a
technical society moving into the 21st
century. And it has direct relevance to
the forward-looking (futuristic), “ clas­
sical” education mode which was de­
veloped by Blacks over a hundred years
ago-dismantled, unfortunately by those
whom I like to refer to as “ the intrud­
ers” (more about them later). I gave an
example on page 6 of the Portland
Observer for December 9,1987, when I
described the school opened in 1829 in
Charleston, South Carolina by Daniel
A .Payne,a “ freeNegro” ; smallBlack
children and a classical curriculum.
Having been told that the differ­
ence between a master and a slave was
SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE, the new
teacher began with English grammar,
arithmetic and geography...to this I added
Playfair’s Euclid (Geometry), biology
and natural philosophy...in the mean­
time I furthered MY OWN LEARN­
ING that I might better teach (he was
mostly self-taught, having only three
years of formal education), buying a
Greek grammar and lexicon with which
I mastered the Greek alphabet...my soul
rejoiced as I proceeded on to French
and Latin.” Before his students reached
the age of twelve Mr. Payne had intro­
duced them to zoology and the standard
classifications of flora and fauna-lack­
ing funds to purchase materials, our
“ classicist” went into the woods him­
self to gather plants and small creatures
to preserv e and stuff for his classroom.
(These are excerpts from a fascinating
account found in the libraries of some
southern Black colleges: Bishop Daniel
Alexander Payne, “ Recollections of
Seventy Years” ; Nashville 1888, pp.
19-25.)
Now, that is my meaning when I
use the phrase “ Back to the future” .
And in order to assess the validit of this
observation in the current era, we need
proceed no farther than an examination
of the successful “ classical curricu­
lum” of the all-Black Chicago high
school operated by the famed “ Father
Clements” - o r of similarly nationally-
acclaimed counterparts in New York
and Washington, D.C. Like the future­
looking Daniel Payne, the academic
all-stars who run these institutions know
that language, literature and mathemat­
ics are the key equipment a child must
have to “ break the code of knowl­
edge” . And again, like Payne our his­
torical mentor, thee masters of learning
demonstrate daily that ‘ ‘The play is the
thing.”
That is, almost all knoledge is about
the “ performance” of some thing or
another: an individual, organization, or
a nation as in history-or in the field of
science where considerations are about
the role of particles or energy levels in
the initiation or participation in a proc-
ess-o r about events as they unfold upon
our ‘ ‘ stage” of experience, and we seek
to assess the values displayed by such
“ populations” (statistical characteris­
tics or parameters).
The other half of the equation that
facilitates “ classical learning” is con­
nected with the recognition that a great
deal of what we pass off as “ knowl­
edge” is noi any such thing at all; it is
simply a collection o f exercises in
“ classifying and naming” things. A
list of Latin names for family groups of
plants or animals tells you absolutely
nothing about any m ember-unless you
are already in possession of an exten­
sive data base which would permit you
Edward Lewis, publisher of ESSENCE
Magazine and Chief Executive of
Essence Communications, Inc. has
just been named to the TransAfrica
Board of Directors. It was announced
at the Annual TransAfrica Dinner
held in Washington, D.C. this past
weekend.
TransAfrica, America’s only African-
American lobby that monitors United
States foreign policy toward Africa
and the Caribbean, is currently work­
ing with the Congressional black
Caucus to spearhead an effort to in­
crease foreign aid authorizations for
Africa and the Caribbean.
Lewis has been a supporter of Tran­
sAfrica since its inception. His com­
pany plans to honor Winnie Mandela
with its prestigious ESSENCE
AWARD at a 20th Anniversary cele­
bration on October 19 at Radio City
Music Hall in New York City.
This year, ESSENCE celebrates its
Twentieth Anniversary. One of the
fastest-growing magazines in the
United States, ESSENCE has a guar­
anteed monthly circulation of 850,000
and a readership of more than 4 mil­
lion. Its parent company. Essence
Communications, Inc. (ECI), includes
Essence Direct Mail, which distrib­
utes ESSENCE By mail, a catalog
marketed to Black consumers, and
Essence Art Reproductions. Essence
Licensing, another division of ECI,
includes the Essence Eyewear line
and the ESSENCE Collection by
Butterick, a sewing-pattern wardrobe,.
to make inferences or logical deduc­
tions about any individual. From the
name alone you cannot determine if
you might be poisoned, chased or bit­
ten. “ There is a Horribilis Rex in my
backyard!” So?
Then it follows that one of the
biggest reasons for the success of the
schools of excellence I’ve described is
their “ classical curriculum” of litera­
ture and languages that enables the
students to “ break the code of knowl­
edge” with an expansive data base of
cultural literacy-and whcih permits their
disciplined minds to draw upon all the
chronicles of the historical bases of
each area of human knowledge. That is
why 85 percent of the “ graduating”
student body (90%) not only goes to
college, but remains there, succeeding
in every hard discipline from math and
science to the rigidly structured hu-
m anities-am ong the highest achieving
scholars of any race.
No, the blind cannot lead the blind,
nor can the incompetent and uncom­
mitted teach unmotivated youth. “ Pay
well for the best and dismiss the rest”
said the long-suffering parents of the
other schools in Chicago’s degenerat­
ing educational system. As I reported
here several weeks ago, they have fi­
nally been able to place themselves in a
position to do just that.
They have demonstrated no appe­
tite for the cop-outs presented by “ in-
truders” -alleged experts who offer such
Mr. Howard Hayashi is the local owner/
panceas as vouchers and “ schools-of-
operator of McDonald’s. He spon­
choice” , both of which come with even
sored and gave out “ Congratulations”
more bussing. For these Black parents
certificates to all the 3rd graders who
there is but one choice, “ We want our
participated in the “ When I Grow
schools to become the same kind of
Up” contest. However, as with any
urban educational institutions that Fa­
contest there are winners and Mich­
ther Clements has proved possible.”
elle Joseph, Michael Cormack,
They have a point! Three thousand
Beatrice Kelly, and Orthea Storey
years ago the Greeks came to the Afri­
were those ambitious youngsters who
can Temple Schools for a superior
claimed the honors.
education in the “ classic tradition” . The 3rd grade teachers at King Elemen­
Today the very least that African
tary encouraged and judged the es­
Americans can do is insist that their
says at the local level.
children come to innercily schools fora The winning essays will now beentered
“ classic education” .
in a statewide contest, where their es­
says will be judged against other win­
ning essays. Though hundreds of 3rd
graders participated in the “ When I
Grow Up” program, and were ap­
plauded for their thought and effort,
only 18 of the essays made it to the
final round of competition. O f the 18
essays 3 will emerge as winners. The
first, second, and third prize winners
will receive savings bonds.
Contest sponsored
by Local
McDonald’s Owner
AT&E UNVEILS
WORLD’S FIRST
WRISTWATCH
PAGER;
Beauty &
Barber Supplies
Open to Public 9-6 - Delivery/Service
231 N. Lombard
Suita 200
Portland, OR 97217
BOSCO “ ABIL”
KANTE
AWARDED
Peggy Sumner
Owner
(503) 289-0205
TIEESHA TAYLOR
A NATURAL RESOURCE
By Tony Washington
Tieesha Taylor graduated from Portsmouth Middle School with an exceptional
grade point average of 4.0. Tieesha expressed great thanks to Jesus for making
her strong, and to her Mom for giving her comfort in her time of need. Very
shy but expressive, Tieesha feels strongly about her future success. At this
time she is not certain about what she wants to be in life. I suppose it’s natural
for someone who wants to broaden her educational prospectives.
By being herself, she is a definite role model for our future. After all, she is one
of our natural resources. Congratulations to Tieesha!
-----Mentioned in Portland Public Schools. Black Academic A ll-Stars---------
Jefferson High School
Class of 1970 is
holding their 20 year reunion
August 10,11,12.
Pre-registration by June 30,1990
Any questions contact 282-8144
I’m not
Deaf,
I just can't understand
some words.
------ I have difficulty hearing in noisy situations
------ I hear people speak but have difficulty understanding the
words.
____ I have difficulty understanding
on the phone.
------- I have to turn up the radio or
television to where it's
uncomfortably loud for others.
------ I haven't had my hearing tested
in more a year.
If you said yes to any of the above, it's time to get your hearing
tested at an authorized Miracle-Ear Center.
Call Today for Free Hearing
Test. 253-0289, ask for Sheila
/r x \
...
.
_
M ir a c le -E a r ’
T h is W eek in H istory
O REGON’S OLDEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PUBLICATION
Ron Foerster, Ph.D.
Established in 1970
Alfred L. Henderson
Publisher
Joyce Washington
Operations Manager
Gary Ann Gamctt
Leon Harris
Editorial Manager
Business Manager
PORTLAND OBSERVER
is published weekly by
Exie Publishing Company, Inc.
4747 N.E. M.L.K., Jr. Blvd.
Portland, Oregon 97211
P.O. Box 3137
Portland, Oregon 97208
kN
(503) 288-0033 (Office) * FAX #: (503) 288-0015
Deadlines for all submitted materials:
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POSTMASTER; Send A dtlrca Chanyt* lu; 1‘urUund Observer. I'.t). JJ
OR 97208.
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The PO RTLAND OBSERVER w rk iim n frrctunce submissions. Manuscripts and pho-
(«graphs should be clearly labeled and will be returned if accompanied by a self-
addressrd envelope. All crcalrd designed display ads become the sole property of this
newspaper and can not be used In other publications or personal usage, without the
written consent ot the general manager, unless the client has purchased the composition
of such ad. 1990 PO R TLA N D OBSERVER. A L L R IG H TS RESERVED, REPRO DUC­
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The PO RTLA ND OBSERVER - Oregon's Oldest African-American Publication-.is a
member of The National Newspaper Association •• Euundcd In IXII5, and I hcNational
Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc., New York, NV.
DEMONSTRATES FIRST COAST-
TO-COAST MESSAGE
TRANSMISSION
USING NEW TECHNOLOGY
A new era in personal communications
began today with the official unveil­
ing of the world’s first paging system
that uses a wristwatch as the receiver.
During a four-city satellite confer­
ence, AT&E company officials suc­
cessfully demonstrated the first coast-
to-coast message transmission using
its Personal Communications Sys­
tem (PCS) and SEIKO* RECEPTOR
MessagcWatch** receiver.
At the conference, CharlesSkibo, presi­
dent and chief operating officer of
San Francisco-based AT&E Corpo­
ration, announced that the company
has successfully completed the sec­
ond and final field test phase for the
RECEPTOR TM PCS in Portland,
Ore. AT&E will now begin market­
ing the low-cost, easy-to-use service
to consumers in Portland.
•SEIKO is a registered trademark
of HATTORI SEIKO CO., LTD.
** RECEPTOR and MessageWatch
are trademarks of AT&E
Corporation.
Bosco “ Abil” Kante was awarded the
rank of Eagle Scout at a Court of
Honor at the Fremont United Meth­
odist Church, 2620 N.E. Fremont
Street, on June 4th.
Bi • graduated from Grant High School
last year. He has completed his first
year at University of Southern Cali­
fornia where he is majoring in Me­
chanical Engineering. He was selected
for the Dean’s List and was recently
elected as Treasurer for the National
Society of Black Engineers Student
Special note: if you are unfa­
miliar with the Alabama merchant
boycott, please see my column in May
that explained it, or refer to the library’s
annals of newspapers on microfilm from
that era. It’s definitely worth knowing
about, in that it can be very incredible
what white folk have sometimes done
to remain in the power seat.
June 21,1958-An Alabama judge okays
Blacks’ rights to continue the Alabama
merchant boycott, stating that every
American has the right to purchase what
and where he/she chooses.
The boycott started when Tus­
kegee, Alabama gained a law that took
away Black Americans’ right to vote.
Through rearranging Tuskegee’s city
boundaries, the city managed to ex­
clude nearly all of the four hundred
African American voters, while retain­
ing the voting status of the 600 white
voters.
Additionally, the legislature
okayed an amendment that allowed the
abolition of Macon county to keep Blacks
from having equal access to political
power.
June 20,1968-The University of Wash­
ington announces it stepped up plans to
recruit Areican American, Mexican
Americans, and American Indians. “ Al­
though a grade point average of 2.5 has
usually been taken as a reliable crite­
rion or probable success, other evi­
dence is considered, ’ ’ stated director of
new student services, Robert Long. “ In
the case of students subjected to ad­
verse social and economic circumstances,
grade point average is less likely to be
a valid indicator of academic success.”
June 2 0 ,1970-The only woman in Eng­
land’s “ Conservative Cabinet” (name
for their ruling body) is selected-M ar-
garet Thatcher starts her reign of power.
Prior to being appointed to the cabinet,
Thatcher first was a lawyer, then served
as a junior minister for the government.
June 23, 1970-Black physician Claud
Stephens, when running for sixthe Con­
gressional district, salvages his cam­
paign: officials from the Southerh
Christian Leadership Conference find
marked ballots against Stephens in his
opponent’s home. The ballots were
given to the F.B.I. for further investiga­
tion.
*****
Recommended reading: The May issue
of Ebony has a great feature on Nelson
Mandela, entitled “ A Special Message
To Black Am ericans", as well as Isiah
Thomas’ mother telling how she be­
lieves we can save children from gang
entrance. Also, the June 1990 issue of
Mother Jones has a good article oh
Mandela: it talks about Mandela’s skill
at negotiation with a group that is known
for being non-negotiablc. It also in­
cludes a question-and-answer session
between Mandela and the author. Fi­
nally, if you can manage to get ahold of
the September 1989 issue of Mother
Jones (the downtown library should
have it), it includes an insightful sec­
tion on Black filmmaker Spike Lee, as
well as a look at the Black street scene
in New York.