Page 2
I he Portland Observer - Junuary 9, 1991
By Professor McKinley Burt
Great Day
A-Comin’
I don’t know about the possibility
o f freedom suggested by that phrase
from an old spiritual the slaves san g -
whether they anticipated Abraham Lin­
coln or the second com ing-but I do
know that a great month is coming up:
Black History Month.
As usual during these times, from
now through February, 1 will be citing
the old and the new contributions of
African Americans (and Africans) to the
culture and technology of the world.
There will be provided many new and
exciting examinations and insights, a
theme; “ We did it before and we can do
it again.” As usual, I will be available
for presentations in the schools, com­
munity gatherings, public agencies, and
for television appearances.
Reflecting that it would be very ap­
ropos in these particular times to lead
off with an educational them, I began
sorting through material amassed on those
super-competent, early African Ameri­
can educators and their techniques. It is
fascinating to draw on the documents
describing the accomplishments of those
ex-slave teachers who, within five years
of the end of the Civil War, had prepared
the blacks to set up their own infrastruc­
ture of county government, schools, roads,
hospitals and the like (cited by General
Saxton, Military Annals, Howard Uni­
versity Library).
And there will be updated informa­
tion on the accomplishments of the newly-
freed Bishop Daniel Payne who devised
and taught from lesson plans and cur­
riculum that took blacks from illiteracy
to stellar performance on the entrance
exams to the top universities now opened
to them (for a short while): grammar,
mathematics, biology, geography, as-
tronomy, Greek, Latin and so forth. An
early “ Father Clements” , if you will.
What’s happened since?
This does not mean that the role of
our African forefathers (mothers) will
be slighted-from the Temple Schools
of Ancient Egypt and Sudan in African,
4000 years ago, to the fabulous Univer­
sity o f Timbuktu on Africa’s west coast
And, then there were the Schools of
Navigation and Geography set up in
Portugal by the dusky moors from North
African whom Shakespeare made fa­
mous. (And weren’t Columbus and
Magellan happy that their navigators
were schooled by this African Curricu­
lum). Of course, Shakespeare did quite
well himself from African curriculum -
given that the works of the great ancient
poet, Terrance, was an important and
mandatory part of the curriculum of
Shakespeare’s schools. The five act
structure of his most important plays
was taken from the works of black Ter­
rance (Plimpton 1933, Baldwin 1945,
1965, 111.). And we shouldn’t omit the
historical works of Leo Africanus from
whom Shakes pears drew so heavily for
his scenarios and backdrops.
So you can understand my stomach
tremors when a small delegation of brown­
skinned acquaintances dropped b y -
somehow managing to find me! I say
“ somehow” because this particular group
is unable to locate me except when they
are in dire need of something; never
when their grant money and other good­
ies flow like wine. It seems that a new
“ hot” scenario has come on stage in the
educational arena, “ INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS OF EDUCATIONAL
ACHIEVEMENT” . The brothers were
drooling; “ Jesse Jackson, even, is on
topofit. Isaw him onC -SPA N .” “ You
know that there is going to be some
monies we can get in on” they ex­
claimed.” You know how to make a
case for the disadvantaged getting all
the assistance possible-from any quar­
ter. And you’ve got a good track record
for getting grants.” They didn’t sound
like people who would be interested in
World Beat Reggae House Rap Blues Soul Gospel Folk Jazz
the proven award-winning lesson plans
and curriculum 1 have developed over
the years (as good as any import).
Now, what was all that about? I’m
sure our readers are familiar with the
current uproar about the failures of
America’s educational system -and the
catastrophic consequences predicted for
this nation in the INTERNATIONAL
scheme of things. The president, con­
gress, Secretary of Education, schools
and industry have all been in concert
with the cry, “ We shall become a THIRD-
RATE NATION-behind Japan and In-
dia-unless by the year 2000, we raise
our achievement levels to a parity with
the rest of the industrialized nations of
the world. Our workforce must be made
technologically competitive.”
Brave worlds, but that time table, of
course, is impossible. Any person living
in a real world, who has taught in our
schools or who has hired or supervised
the workforce now entering our industry
and government agencies, knows better
than this. Both the American educa­
tional and political establishments are
very adept at avoiding reality, while
embarking upon messianic crusades
designed to blur the issues and postpone
the day of reckoning (Budget Deficit). I
am sure you remember two such cru­
sades that were supposed to put America
in the forefront of the world’s technol­
ogy: “ THE NEW MATH and THE
METRIC SYSTEM.” W ha’ happen?
And what was that great observation
Pogo made?
At the beginning here, I introduced
some revealing insights into what might
be called a Black Learning Machine.
And I cited the instance of some African
Americans and their crusade (hustle).
Apparently, there are both white and
black Americans who have lost faith in
themselves-bordering on self-contempt.
We need foreign input like a hole in the
head! Next week we will further de­
velop this theme of history and educa­
tion. W e’ve done it before and we can
do it again—if we KNOW WHO WE
ARE!
Uncertain Futures
Documentary
Jump
Jump
IRS Impersonators Promoting
Tax Scam
Oregon’s Court
Denies Youths
Licenses
«
Oregon’s courts ordered nearly 1,850
driver license denials for youths between
the ages of 13 and 17 during the first
months of 1990, according to the Motor
Vehicles Division.
The 1,841 denials were based on
court convictions or determinations in­
volving alcohol or drug possession, use
or abuse. After such convictions, courts
order DMV to suspend licenses or deny
the privilege to apply for a license or
permit. Driving privileges may be de­
nied even when the offenses are not
related to driving a motor vehicle.
There were 1,551 denials for pos­
session of alcohol or drugs. This ac­
Carolyn Lenonard
counted for 84 percent of the total. O f the
Internal Revenue Service officials
remainder, six denials were for having
are
alerting
Oregonians of a scam in­
an open container of alcohol or drinking
volving
impersonation
of IRS officials.
in a motor vehicle; 221 were for intoxi­
In
cases
reported
thus
far, the scheme
cation or driving under the influence of
has
cost
several
Oregonians
over $400
intoxicants (DUII); and 63 were for mis­
apiece.
Each
victim
has
responded
to a
cellaneous alcohol and drug offenses such
telephone
call
which
instructed
them
to
as theft, delivery or manufacturing of a
pay
taxes
to
claim
a
new
automobile
won
controlled substance. Males accounted
as a prize.
for 1,340 of the denials, or 73 percent.
The telephone caller(s) identified
Under the law, first offenders are
themselves
as IRS officials and explained
denied licenses for one year or until the
that
a
car
had
been won. They said deliv­
person becomes 17, whichever is longer.
ery
could
not
be made until a federal tax
Repeat offenders are suspended or de­
had
been
paid.
The would be winners
nied licenses for one year or until the
were told to pay the tax to the telephone
person becomes 18, whichever is longer.
caller through Western Union.
DMV statistics show that 268 were sec­
IRS District Director Carolyn Le­
ond denials, 56 were third denials, 15
were fourth denials, four were fifth deni­
als, and one was a sixth denial.
Oregon Symphony Concert
same name where vendors sell live,
cooked, and pickled snakes, and where
crowds throng the marketplace in a hurly-
burly of sights, sounds, and smells.
In addition to “ Snake Alley,” which
was first performed in 1989, Dzubay
also has published additional composi­
tions for orchestra, string orchestra, brass
quintet, solo horn, and saxophone quar­
tet, among others. His works have been
performed in the United States, Europe,
and Asia by orchestras such as the Chi­
cago Civic Orchestra, the National Rep­
ertory Orchestra, the Indiana University
Philharmonic, the New World Symphony,
the Oakland East Bay Symphony, the
New York Youth Symphony, and the or­
chestras of Detroit and Honolulu.
In addition to many other scholar­
ships and prizes, Dzubay has rtxeived
BMI Student Composer awards and
ASCAP young Composers awards.
Leon Bates
Pianist Leon Bates has established
himself as one of the leading performers
in America. In addition to his Carnegie
Hall and Alice Tully Hall appearances,
he has performed with all of the major
symphonies in United States and also
performs world-wide. Critical acclaim
follows Bates wherever he goes. The
New York Times has described Bates as
* ‘ a pianist with a touch of the poet.” The
San Francisco Chronical said, “ What
emerged was a reading of remarkable
emotional complexity. The opening page
of the finale, which...went from a deli­
cate piano to a blazing forte in minute,
almost imperceptible increments, was
characteristic of Bates’ control.”
A Philadelphia native, Leon Bates
was recognized as a child prodigy. His
early enthusiasm led him to study with
the late Irene Beck and later with inter­
nationally renowned pianist Natalie
Hinderas. At theage of 19, Bates won the
Music
USED
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CO'S
Portland, Or. 97232
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PORTLAND1
f
¡ERVER
Noah Nelson, Urban correspondent
for NBC News, hosts UNCERTAIN
FUTURES (W. T.), a documentary
that examines why young black
men have problems setting goals
for themselves and highlights the
growing number of people and
organizations working to help these
men change their lives.
(2/29/91 10:00 p.m. one hour)
(USPS 959-680)
OREGON'S OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN PUBLICATION
Established in 1970
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Reinvestments
Community
What Is a "Good Faith Effort
IL
By Professor McKinley Burt
We often hear that phrase, a
“ good faith effort’ ’ as having been
made by someone or another-or
by a particular organization. But,
just what, exactly, does it mean?
Under some circumstances we feel
that we know very well the extent
of the implied com m itm ent-to de­
liver, to expedite, to discharge a
debt, or whatever. For instance,
we often have it from the United
States Government, “ backed by
the full-faith and credit of [the
government].”
But, today, I would lead us
into another area for assessment of
this ubiquitous term. While I’ve
been writing this current series on
“ Minority Business” (concluded
this week on Business Page), I find
myself returning to frequent
thoughts concerning the level of
com m itm cnt-and, indeed, the
sincerity-of many of the African
Americans who make such a noisy
and highly-publicized case for an
immediate and massive escalation
of the minority business effort (sel­
dom accompanied by action, let
alone a structured plan for im­
plementation).
In the immediate case, my
reflections arc prompted by a re­
cent column of Tony Brown, the
well-known black television com­
mentator and publisher of “ Tony
Brown’s Journal” . Here, he took
to task some of the most hallowed
and respected echelons of the black
leadership hierarchy. Specifically,
he furnished the following quotes
of William Reed, a columnist for
the Black-owned Washington, D.C.
newspaper, Capital Spotlight.
“ The Congressional Black
Caucus weekend is the most glar­
ing evidence of a two-decade-old
saga of ineptness, mismanagement,
lack of accountability and vision
of our so-called
“ After 20 years of CBC
weekends, the most obvious evi­
dence of Black leadership having
been on Capitol Hill are thousands
of Scotch bottles, a slew of chicken
bones and a host of white mer­
chants rushing to the bank to de­
posit the one-half billion dollars
they receive each year from CBC
hotel rentals and the sale of Scotch
and hot buffalo wings.”
“ This is one of those 150
annual gcl-togcthcrs where middle-
class Blacks are spending 3 billion
dollars with white people while
discussing how bad off we arc and
blaming racism for it. I, of course,
have proposed that all Black groups
cancel their 1992 meetings and
use the $3 billion as a capital for­
mation fund to rebuild our com­
munity.”
“ I think this position is well
taken, a rather succinct assessment,
right to the “ inept” point-and
every bit as caustic a presentation
as I would have made (smiles).
Further, I think it is a logic that
could be applied to this micro­
cosm, Portland, Oregon. We know
that I have made this case a num­
ber of times, not only in articles
and in spceched—but, going so far
as to design and implement uni­
versity calsses incorporating both
the standard business and legal
structures of enterprise, but also
the real-time experiences of suc­
cessful enterprencurs.
So what is that can be done-
that isn’t being donc-that must be
done? Never in history has the
race3 had so many college gradu­
ates, so many blacks in experi­
ence-gaining positions in manage­
ment, technology and the finan­
cial interface. But it would seem
that it was the lesser educated and
exposed blacks of yesteryear who
had the drive, ambition and moti­
vation to successfully launch many
viable business enterprises. What
do you think is the answer? Write
us here at the paper; we’d like to
hear from you!
zip code
Thank You For Reading the
Portland Observer
r ♦ * » »• * «
V-
# •
AG ENCY
Are • The • Proud • Sponsors • Of
zs
503-284-4828
7775 N.E. Broadway
Philadelphia Orchestra Competition and
played with the Philadelphia Orchestra
for the first time. From this auspicious
beginning, his career has grown to in­
clude many awards; numerous record­
ings on the Orion, Performance, and
Naxos labels; and a schedule of over 100
performances annually.
In addition to this full schedule,
Bates is a master teacher and is often
called upon to give master classes to
promising young musicians. While in '
Portland, Bates will visit Jefferson High
School on January 17 as part of the Ore­
gon Symphony’s “ Musically Speaking” ‘
program and will teach a master class at
M oe’s Pianos on the same day at 7:30pm,
Individuals interested in the masterclass
are asked to call Moe’s Pianos at 775-
2480 for more information.
Bates also is well known as a sports
enthusiast and a disciplined body builder,
which he feels aid his playing ability.
RVER &
POCTLfl
%
onard explained that individuals who
doubt the validity of a telephone call
should contact the IRS Inspection Office
at (503) 326-2787.
Leonard said that occasional per­
sons posing as IRS employees attempt to
harass taxpayers or collect money for
what the impostor claims are unpaid
taxes. She offered the following tips to
avoid being taken in by a bogus IRS
agent:
♦Normally, your first IRS contact
for an audit or tax collection is by mail.
If you fail to respond to the letter, an
agent may call or visit you.
♦Normally the IRS prefers payment
by check or money order made payable
to the “ Internal Revenue Service” . (Note:
do not abbreviate I-R-S, spell out the
words)
♦If the IRS needs to audit y o u , you
will be asked to discuss your tax situ­
ation at an office.
♦IRS employees usually work dur­
ing business hours on weekdays, never
on the weekend or evenings.
♦If contacted by the IRS, the em­
ployee will have access to your sociaj
security number. Although this is not a
fool proof method, you can ask for this
for verification.
♦If an agent comes to your door, ask
for identification. All IRS field employ­
ees carry distinctive identification that
clearly displays their name and picture.
I
"Reinvestments in the Community" is a weekly column appearing
in API publications throughout the USA.
.*.♦*«** c
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