January 1 5 ,m i - T h e Portland Observer - f M . S
By Professor McKinley Burt
Down With Gloom
& Doom; Forward
With History
There is no contradiction in that,
none at all. No other race in history has
a greater opportunity to utilize the les­
sons and data of the ‘past’ to GO
FORWARD than the African Ameri­
can of today-front culture to technol­
ogy, and front educational institutions
to learning styles; front role models to
patents.
But, as I said last week, if those in
charge or at the forefront of the media-
circus have a not-always-well disguised
self-contempt, then values of all that
magnificent black heritage will be lost,
and those resources will be forever
unavailable. The same applies to con­
temporary resources and ‘people’ whose
talents will never be realized, and whose
wisdom will be denied articulation.
In many quarters “ gloom and
down” is the cry of the day among
those of us of little faith (or perception)
who anticipate that the current eco­
nomic turndown in the affairs of ‘ole
m assa’ will lead to massive cutoffs at
some of the shakier political and “ dis­
advantaged grant’ feeding pens, last
week 1 cited the fuzzy foot work of
some of these frightened brothers who
descended upon me with a grandoise
scheme to ‘ ‘get some of these ‘new dol­
lars’ that will be available with the
contemplated importation of European
science and technical education sys­
tems,.” Once again, check out “ Pogo” .
. Let me proceed to deal with this
problem in my usual historical fashion;
very recent history that gets right to the
heart of the situation. And keep in mind
that it is not...just blacks who seem to
have ‘lost faith’. The white establish­
ment would seem to grow in despair
and confusion also, flailing themselves
with accusations and hindsight. One
wonders though, if there is such a dire
lack of educational opportunity and
upward mobility in America, why are
millions of foreigners trying to break
down the immigration barriers in order
to COME HERE? How about that!
Now, for another African Ameri­
can contributor, one of considerable
magnitude. And one who spent a great
part of his lifetime trying in vain to
convince his black brethern that we had
available in our history (and current
genes) 90% of the know-how and edu­
cation methodology necessary to gain
parity with or surpass the nation or
•world. He is DAVID CROSTHWAIT,
mechanical engineer extraordinaire
(1891-1976).
•
Without his inventions and engi­
neering technology in the field of heat­
ing and air conditioning systems and
controls for skyscrapers, modern man
could not inhabit buildings over 12
stories tall anywhere in the world. He
gave us die concept of the ‘ ‘ INTELLI­
GENT HIGHRISE” , highlighted by
his design and installation of the com­
puterized control heating and variable
vacuum process in such building as the
ROCKEFELLER CENTER in New
York City (34 U.S. and 80 foreign
patents).
Before his death in 1976, I spent
many hours talking with this brilliant
African American about the incredible
potential and resources possessed (but
not
used)
by
our
group.
Our...conversations usually began on a
‘high note’, with general discussions of
pioneering and seminal technology
developed by blacks from ‘day one’.
His favorite e “ genius” was NOR­
MAN RILLIEUX, the black engineer
from Louisiana whose “ Triple-Stage
Sugar Evaporator” (Patent No. 4,879,
Dec. 10, 1846) not only made the United
States the world leader in sugar refin­
ing technology, but that the German
King called on labor to
join with the civil rights
movement in a stuggle for
a "guaranteed annual
wage, an adequate mini­
mum wage for all who
work, without exclusions,
and guaranteed employ­
ment for all willing to
work...Why should the
most affluent and most
powerful nation on earth
have unemployment to­
day?" King asked.
i
(H
Liz Narvaez Speaks Out
Against Drugs
^/-¿V JÚ 'ÍIU Ü
industrialisms used his developments
in THERMODYAMICS to become
world leaders in that area of the chemi­
cal and dye industries (The United States
Department of Agriculture did pro­
nounce RILLIEUX’S patent,” The
greatest invention in the history of
chemical engineering” .
On the downside to this story, there,
again, is a gross failure of African
Americans to realize and exploit the re­
sources and genius for learning that we
possess. Dr. Crosthwait complained bit­
terly that though he offered time, money,
knowhow and patent trusts (for founda­
tions) to the black community and school
sin the Detroit area, he was rebuffed an
blocked at every point by the ‘tradi­
tional’ black organizations and “ closed
incestuous power groups (tell me about
it).” “ There was no avenue to the
people” , he said. Politics and hordes of
‘elected black officials’ would solve
everything-in credible of course, with
an evaporating tax base of ‘ white flight’
an accompanying degeneration o f so­
cial services.
O f course the crime and gangs
grew and grew and grew. The man died
of frustration , unable to implement or
deliver his realistic concepts of neces­
sary motivation, role models and rele­
vant technical curriculum to the stu­
dents and community. I decided some
time ago that “ the clowns will never
kill me” . As many readers know the
Liz Narvaez is outspoken against
in their kids’ lives. Kids care most what
Portland School District twice turned drugs and takes whatever opportunity
their parents think about them. If the
down my award-winning ‘Computer- she can to visit schools and talk with
parents aren’t there or don’t have an
interest, the kid falls prey to anybody
Communications’ educational project. young people about the issue. She and
who acts like they care. My mom knew
Fairly recently, 1 had the same luck her co-stars from “ The Cosby Show”
where I was, who I was with and what
when presenting a technology project often went as a group to different high
schools
to
advocate
that
students
use
I was doing. Parents have to take an
to a local technical high school. It in­
their
heads
and
stay
clear
of
this
killer:
interest.
corporated the same African American
motivational models as incorporated in
“ Don’t do it! Don’t think about it.
“ To j ust say no is not enough. You
the first-and as advanced by Mr. Crosth­
You don’t need it. I was around drugs,
need your brain and you need to be able
wait. However, a former student of
like most kids, but I never had any
to see clearly how you want to live and
mine presented the concept to the ma­
problem saying no. I owe that to my
not feel the pressure from other people
jor technical training center in his home
parents, mostly my mom.
to do stupid stuff. Being cool is not
city in the south. It was snapped up like
“ A lot of the problem stems from
being afraid to be who you are.”
hotcakes, and once again I have gener­
the parents. Parents need to be involved
ated a six-figure grant which ‘Portland
could have used in these lean times’
(and that is ‘before’ the matching con­
Speedy
tribution from industry). At present I
Service
am completing the design of a second
Friendly
such “ motivational-technology proj­
ect’ ’ based upon a modem citys ’ infra­
Call for
structure. My data base is derived from
Quote!!!
a Portland City Bureau on whose advi­
104 NE Russel S t
sory board I serve.
Portland, OR 97212
Will the Portland School system
‘buy’ it. I doubt it, but my Beaverton
(503) 282-5111
“ Industry Partner” is putting up two
other southern school officials at the
Place your advertisement in the
company guest house later this month.
Portland Observer
,■
All these people plan to ‘import’ is
coffee! My history and my fore fathers
Office# (503) 288-0033
(mothers) guide me. What about you?
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Educational Information
For People Of All Ages.
Sunday, February 3rd, 1991
Doors Open At 5:00 p.m.
$10.00 / each
Uoyd Center Red Lion
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For Ticket Information Call:
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Dontâ Warren
503/284-2459
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Martin Luther King
Birthday
Jan. 15 ,19 2 9 - April 4 ,19 6 8
OBSERVED MONDAY,
JANUARY 2 1 , 1991
Be Sure To Look
In Your
I
He had a dream
a dream that one
day our country's promise of
equality for all people
regardless
of race or religion ... would become
a reality. He gave his life for his
dream, which he promoted through
non-violent resistance to
segregation. His work foi justice
was recognized in 1964. when he
was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
Since his death, his dream goes
on. as people in all walks of life
strive toward his goal of equal
freedom and opportunity for all.
Thank you, Martin Luther King, for
making us all aware that your
dream is an exalted one which
deserves to come true.
MAGAZINE
for your Safeway
Shopping Guide for
a complete list of
specials on sale this
week at Safeway! w
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1