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Portland Observer - March 6,1991
Can African American Children Learn
by Pr- A* Jacqueline Sheppard
( The minority child’s first teacher is his/her mother”.)
Desert Shield to
Desert Storm, to
Desert contracts
It seems to be ‘business as usual’
now that the U.N. Coalition has handily
defeated the ENEMY OF ITS OWN
CREATION, and the very weapons of
mass destruction it sold to Iraq in the
first place have been reduced to the
worlds largest scrap yard.
However, it would be quite naive
indeed to suppose that the facts I cited
in last week’s “ History Lesson for
President Bush” Will get any play in
the postwar thinking o f any of those
involved. Already, financial lips are
being licked from Wall Street in New
York to Fleet Street in London (and
even in Japan) as the contracts for bil­
lions for reconstruction of Kuwait and
Iraq are savored like juicy sirloin steaks.
Many are already leL
And irony of ironies, my “ History
Lesson” revealed that it was the Brit­
ish Colonialists, upon whose world-
ravaging empire (including colonial
america) the sun was boasted to ‘ ‘never
set” , who were primarily responsible
for today’s horrendous events in the
Middle East. But, today we have british
Prime Minister, John Majors, turning
pious eyes toward heaven and solemnly
declaring, that “ We must be about
resolving the long standing regional
problems. “ (“ Hear, Hear!” as they
cry in the British Parliament).
The oracles have pronounced that
the huge oil reserves have been ren­
dered ‘safe for the democracies’, but
we think that certain questions are in
order. We may ask if American En-
ergy, auto and transportation compa­
nies are any less facetious and hypo­
critical in their protestations of com­
mitment to the movement to REDUCE
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION or to
address other environmental crisis? The
media does naught but ‘beg the issue’
when it smothers us 24 hours a day with
its coverage of the burning oil wells in
Kuwait, “ set by ecological barbari­
ans” , they say. Is there a ‘method in
their madness’? The following should
make our case as we conclude that they
“ doth protest too much” .
In the late sixties and early seven­
ties, media front-runners like the New
York Times, Washington Post and
Christian Science Monitor did run sev­
eral ‘bold’ articles. These described
how auto manufacturers, oil compa­
nies and tire makers had teamed up to
buy and rip up the tracks of America’s
Urban electric railway systems, to be
replaced by gas-guzzling, atmosphere
polluting city busses. Only recently, a
similar piece appeared in the ‘Forum’
section of a local daily. American tax­
payers have picked up the tab for hun­
dreds of billions of dollars, just as in the
‘Savings and Loan Caper’ (and their
health?).
It was interesting that a number of
readers, both black and other members
of our community, were able to iden­
tify with our comments on the human
vectors who carried diseases like tuber­
culosis, syphilis and AIDS to the shores
of Africa and Asia (and later to the New
World). All were startled by my docu­
mentation of the “ Portuguese Cure for
Syphilis” recommended in the 17th
century; “ Buy a virgin black girl and
sleep with her if she has MALARIA.
The fever will cure ‘your’ syphilis, but
not hers.” Other readers reminded me
of that famous article written in April
1989 by Tony Brown. The following is
a relevant excerpt. “ For example, for
40 years from 1932 until 1972 the U.S.
Public Health Services, and later the
Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta,
conducted the most atrociously unethi­
cal and racist experiment in our history,
black people with syphilis in Tuskegee,
Ala., were intentionally not treated to
lest the destructive path o f advanced
syphilis. Even when penicillin was dis­
covered as a treatment it was withheld.
During those years, this experiment was
reported in 13 major medical journals,
read by over 100,000 doctors and dis­
cussed at conferences. It was an open
secret.”
It is the famed Dr. Peter Duesberg,
the world’s leading retrovirologist -
co-discover of onconfnenes and profes­
sor of molecular biology (cancer) at the
University of California at Berkeley -
who first advanced the claim that AIDS
LS A BIOLOGICAL ETHNIC WEAPON
directed at Black peoples. Given that
Tuskegee experiment, Watergate and
the Contra Caper, should we believe the
governments’ protestation of innocence?
We note that the Bush Administra­
tion just introduced its Civil Rights
Legislation with a proposal to bar
EMPLOYMENT TO ALL WORKERS
unless they sign a binding statement
waiving all rights to sue in employment
discrimination cases. This at the very
time so many are outraged at the ethnic
makeup of our military due to racist
employment practices. And then, this
week on the ABC television special ad­
dressing this very issue, the chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell,
states to the world, “ That’s why I joined
the army, TO GET A JOB!” Will Bush
fire him?
Alcohol And Other Drug Abuse
Prevention Begins At Home
Our children are vulnerable in
today’s world. Poverty, gangs and peer
pressure often lead to the ever-growing
problem of alcohol and other drug abuse.
The participation of concerned fami­
lies, as well as communities in the fight
against this abuse is critical if our na­
tion's youth are to grow up in a healthy,
drug-free environment
During the week of March 3-9,
1991 National PTA’s Alcohol and Other
Drug Awareness Week, the PTA ex­
amines what concerned parents and
communites can do through the theme
“ Prevention Begins at Home.”
Although the PTA believes there
is no single solution to the problem of
alcohol and othe drug abuse, the key to
success is through prevention. Research
shows that parents are the primary in­
fluence in children’s decisions about
alcohol and other drugs. It also sug­
gests that it is easiest to influence chil­
dren’s decision about alcohol and other
drug use if parents start when children
are very young.
Strong communication is the basis
for building ties to family, which many
experts believe is a factor in drug pre­
vention. Clear rules and responsibili­
ties should be set and enforced. Strict
standards may alienate teens temporar­
ily, but they also can help keep them
alcohol and drug free. Building bonds
to school is another key factor because
when education is important to chil­
dren, they are less likely to want to
destroy their ability to learn with alco­
hol and other drugs.
But parents can’t do it alone. The
key, says our nation’s largest parent-
teacher group, is through partnerships
CREED OF THE BLACK PRESS
Tb« Black Press believes that America can best lead the world away from social and
national antagonisms when It accords to every person, regardless of race, color, or
creed, tall human and legal rights. Hating no persou, fearing no person, the Black
Press strives to help every person In the firm belief that all arc hurt as long as anyone
b held back.
PORTI
ERVER
(USPS 959-680)
OREGON'S OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN PUBLICATION
Established in 1970
Alfred L. Henderson
Publisher
Joyce Washington
Operations Manager
Gary Ann Garnett
Business Manager
Leon Harris
Editorial Manager
The 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
Port’and, Oregon 97208
(503) 288-0033 (Office)
FAX#: (503) 288-0015
of parents, schools, businesses, gov­
ernments and communities. Grassroot
efforts have been shown by corpora­
tions like GTE, who in partnership with
the national PTA, developed a unique
alcohol and drug abuse prevention
program called “ Common Sense: Strate­
gies for Raising Alcohol and Drug-
Free Children” , now being used in
schools around the United States.
Alcohol and Other Drug Aware­
ness Week is a reminder that alcohol
and other drug problems require our
attention every single day of the year.
Drug abuse affects us all. Everyone
must get involved.
Please contact your local PTA for
more information on how you can
become part of the support system to
help children avoid alcohol and other
drugs.
PCC Offers Course On
International Business
A new 10-weck Portland
Community College program for
international business people, “ Cultural
Impact on World Trade,” is scheduled
to begin March 25.1991 atP C C ’sR oss
Island Center, 049 S.W. Porter Street
The course is presented through PCC's
Institute for M anagem ent and
Professional Development (IMPD).
The three-credit course is
offered as part o f the IM PD’s World
Trade and Transportation certificate
program. The workshop/seminar-stylc
course has been designed to promote
intercultural awareness and international
skill building in the new global market
place. Participants will develop high
performance communication strategies
to capitalize on international markets.
Improving cross-cultural awareness and
mastering global business protocol are
key objectives of the course.
For further information, please
contact PCC’s Institute for Management
and Professional Development at (503)
273-2818.
Ron Edmonds had indicated “ We
can, whenever and wherever we choose,
successfully teach all children whose
schooling is of interest to us.” Educa­
tion for African American children must
become of interest to us. Therefore, the
problem o f minority educators in pub­
lic schools is a very real problem to be
addressed and to be addressed now, not
later.
From experience we know the way
a teacher interacts with pupils affects
how pupils learn. The amount of time a
teacher waits for a pupil to answer
gives a clue to whether the teacher
thinks a pupil knows the answer. The
teacher’s reinforcement of the correct
response encourages a pupil to con­
tinue to respond. The classroom atmos­
phere should encourage students to
attempt a difficult problem even if that
student fails because trying and failing
help studcnLs learn.
But,if the classroom teacher does
not believe Johnny can learn, she docs
not do the things which encourage him
to try. Many of you are familiar with
the Garibaldi study of 1988 which
showed that 67 of 10 teachers did not
expect their African American students
to go to college. How much encourag-
ment and wait time do you think they
gave those younsters to succeed?
Every day we see and hear our
children singing rap songs. If you listen
to the rap litany , you know the child
who can memorize that wording, can
certainly learn what is taught in the
classroom. The problem is that what is
taught in the classroom is of little or no
interest to him,. We know that fourth
grade is the cirtical grade for boys.
Tony Brown To keynote
Portland Conference
Nationally known African-Ameri­
can columnist and commentator Tony
Brown will be the keynote speaker at
the Portland Association of Black Jour­
nalists’ (PABJ) conference from April
3 to 7 that the Oregon Conventon Center.
Brown will speak on the conference
theme,’’Shaping our Future,” at a ban­
quet on Saturday April 6th.
Opening the conference workshops
will be Johnathan Rodgers, the highest-
ranking African-American in the tele­
vision networks. He is the President of
the CBS News Television Stations in
New York. He will speaking on man­
agement and the prospects for advance-
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The Portland O bserver- Oregon's Oldest African-American Publication - is a member
of The National Newspaper Association - Founded in 1885. and The National Advertis­
ing Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc , New York NY
♦ *. /• J
to African-American journalism stu­
dents in Oregon. People wishing to
donate to PARJ ’s scholarship fund can
do so by sending checks made out to the
Portland Association of Black Jour-
nalisits, P.O. Box 11118, Portland, Ore­
gon 97211.
Conference activities open to the
public include a boat cruise on Satur­
day night after Tony Brown’s speech,
and a Gospel Breakfast on Sunday
morning featuring the Martin Luther
King Choir. These events are open to
the public as well as the luncheon fea­
turing Stephanie-Stokes Oliver and the
banquet featuring Tony Brown.
PORTLAtoÛBSFRVÉR
Are • The • Proud • Sponsors • Of
Reinvestments
Community
Drugs Don’t Work In Portland
W orking with the Regional
Drug Initiative (RDI). Marx/Knoll,
Denight & Dodge advertising cre­
ated its largest public service cam­
paign in the agency’s 38-year his­
tory. Already post-campaign re­
search has revealed increased pub­
lic awareness.
The M /KD&D campaign for
RDI focused on reducing drug
usage in the work place. It was
themed, “ Drugs D on’t w ork.”
according to M /KD&D creative
director Ray Dodge, the campaign
relied on all media and all Port-
land-area media came through
with support. Equally important,
many Portland production ven­
dors offered their help. Thanks to
this support from the com m uni­
cations industry, there was al­
most no expenditure of cash for
cither production or media.
In fact, many businesses sup­
port RDI, a citizens-based Port­
land organization to combat drugs.
Separate committees tackle drugs
on different fronts. The “ Drugs
in the W orkplace C om m ittee,”
chaired by Fred A. Stickel, pub-
Teens in Action presents a full-day
"Surviving the 90's: Friends helping
Friends" workshop/dance for metro-
area teens on Saturday, March 9 at
Whitaker Middle School. Workshops
include sessions on self-esteem, stress
management, how to help a friend,
laughter and relaxation and a
performance by Teens & Com pany.
Cost is $5 for workshop, dance and 2
meals. For more information, please
call the Portland Council of Camp Fire
at 224-7800.
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ment in mangagemenL Rodger’ s speach
will be open to convention participants
only.
Also, speaking at the conference at
a luncheon at the Convention Center
will be Stephanie Stokes-Oliver, the
editor o f Essence magazine. She is a
native of Seattle, Washington and has
been with Essence magazine for 13
years.
About 100 minority journalists from
the Western region and throughout the
nation are expected to attend the con­
ference.
Money raised from the conference
will go towards scholarships to be given
AMALGAMATED PUBLISHERS, INC.
Teens In Action Surviving
The 90’s
Deadlines for all submitted materials:
Articles: Monday, 5 p.m. — Ads: Tuesday, 5 p.m.
While I do not agree African American
teacher is a minority teacher. The
boys cannot be taught by female teach­
minority child’s first teacher is his/her
ers, I do support the theory that boys
mother.
tend to drop out of school mentally
Parents must remain involved in
during the fourth grade.
education if their children are to re­
What is needed is a teacher who
main involved in learning. The par­
truly believes minority youngsters can
ents’ attention is always on what is
learn and produces a stimulating class­
important. If the education of the child
room environment that helps young­
is important, then the parents’ presence
sters remain involved in the learning
sends that signal to the child. Parental
process. Research by Rattersay tells us
presence at school functions sends a
youth must have social and educational
signal of empowerment to the child.
skills before reaching adolescence. It is
The child receives an increased sense
during third to sixth grade that children
of control over his own destiny and a
are the most desirous of learning. Be­
greater sense of his own self-worth
coming an adolescent changes this desire.
when he sees his parents actively en­
Kunjufu has termed the devastation
gaged in decision making his school.
many African American boys experi­
African American children, can
ence as “ the fourth grade failure syn­
learn. They need the same care and
drome.” These young men mentally
understanding that other children have.
drop out of school in the fourth grade
They need the same nurturing environ­
even though they continue to go to
ment in their homes. They need to see
classes until high school.
their parents in power positions and
The child with no skill is ripe for
they need teachers who want to teach
crime. Many prisoners have several
all children including them.
things in common. They are African
We must supply an environment
American, come from broken homes,
that supports the learning of African
poor neighborhoods, and read on a fouth-
American sstudents. The challenge today
grade level. There are fewer ways to be
is to move the agenda from rhetoric to
productive for people with less than a
action. We have talked long enough. If
high school education; therefore, their
we are truly to educate all African-
criminal behavior goes down as their
Americans, we must begin the task of
educational attainment goes up.
working with teachers who care about
The Parents Part
teaching minority students now, today,
Do parents have a part in the learn­
The problem is too servere to wait. Our
ing process? Absolutely! Children model
prisons are too full to waiL We need our
themselves after their parents. If par­
young people to be educated and if we
ents do not read, then children will not
do not educate them, then who will?
read. If parents have no quality time to
Dr. A. Jacqueline Sheppard is
talk to their children, then children
Associate Professor of Education and
have few things of quality to share with
Director of Early Childhood Education
their parents. The minority child’s
at Spelman College.
lisher of The Oregonian, wants
to eliminate drug usage in or af­
fecting the work environment.
“ W e d id n ’t want to repeat
the many advertisements which
use shock to raise awareness of
the durg problem ,’’ said Dodge.
“ We wanted to make people
feel drugs were a problem for
them specifically in the workplace
and secondly, we wanted em ­
ployers and employees to call an
800 number-we wanted action.”
The 800 num ber gave ac­
cess to a state agency that could
refer callers to any o f many
sources o f help, depending on
the caller and the problem.
According to a before and
after survey volunteered by mar­
ket Trends Research, the per­
centage of Portlanders who
drought drug usage by fellow
employees would be a problem
for them at work rose from 50%
in the pre-campaign survey (5/
89) to 73% post-campaign (12/
90) .
This success has encouraged
M /KD&D to plan a new phase
to the campaign for this year.
M/KD&D has created pub­
lic service campaigns in the past
few years for other organiza­
tions. Among them: Oregon
Public Broadcasting, the Port­
land Youth Phiharmonic, and the
Downtown Rotary C lub’s Camp
Enterprise.
The creative team on the
RDI campaign included Ray
Dodge. Rick Dalbey, Asso­
ciate Creative Director; Darrell
Williams, Writer/Producer;
Barry Cadish, writer; and Bruce
Eekols and John Bailer, design­
ers.
Among the contributors to
the production of the RDI cam ­
paign were: MIRA Film &
Video,Spectrum Studios, Fred
Meyer, Tektronix, General Cam­
era West, Teknifilm, Telema-
tion, Pete Stone, photographer;
Henry Ngan, photographer;
Schiegel Typesetting, Portland
Fire Bureau, Eastman Kodak
Company, Talent Management,
Zellerbach Paper, Color Express,
A -l Silkscreen and Riddle
"Reinvestments in the Community" is a weekly column appearing
in API publications throughout the USA.
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