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Page 2 -The Portland Observer -May 22, 1991
CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNAL
By Benjam in F. Chavis, Jr.
Stop Bush’s Backlash Against Civil Rights
The debate over the C iv il Rights
A c t o f 1991 continues. The Bush ad­
m inistration continues to mislabel the
b ill as “ a quota b ill.” As we have
slated before the essence o f the C iv il
A c t o f 1991 is to prevent employment
discrim ination.
W e are now seeing a glimpse o f
the 1992 Presidential Campaign which
promises to be even more racist o ri­
ented than the 1988 campaign. Ra­
cially-charged, political advertisements
have increased. The c iv il rights move­
ment must not allow the C iv il Rights
A c t o f 1991 to become a victim o f a
larger p o litica l strategy o f the ri^h t-
w ing o f the Republican party.
The term “ quota” has become
sy nonymous to “ racial preference” or
“ special preferential treatment for
m in orities.” In fact, the established
media, as it is informed by right-w ing
theoreticians, often characterizes the
“ c iv il rights m ovement” as a move­
ment fo r preferential treatment based
on race or on other factors. The
“ m ovem ent” must define its goals and
objectives clearly to avoid the traps
that are now being laid in regard to the
upcoming vote on the C iv il Rights A ct
o f 1991 in the Congress. The point here
is that these same strategies o f mislabe­
ling and m is-defining the issues w ill
continue into the 1992 Presidential race.
History is always an important
antidote to the political m ythology o f a
given era. The truth is that the c iv il
rights movement o f the 1950’ s and the
1960’ s was never about some type o f
"prefe re n tial racial treatment.” The
goals and objectives o f the “ move­
ment” were justice and freedom and
quality fo r all w ithout discrim ination
due to race, religion, gender or any
other factor.
It is a true inversion o f history for
the forces o f Am erican racism to at­
tempt to accuse and describe the
“ movement” as being for discrim ina­
tion and preferential treatment. I f there
is a difference between the 1960’ s and
the 1990’ s, it is the role o f the federal
government. Today it is the White House
and the Supreme Court that have in sti­
Letter To The Editor
Dear Editor:
1 w ould like to take a moment to
make a plea for the future o f our city. I
have been shocked and disgusted at the
continued presence o f hate-mongering,
racist, gay-bashing skinheads who are
trying to sow the seeds o f our society’ s
destruction. Incident after incident turns
up in the local news media.
1 want us to u tilize every means at
our disposal to let the skinheads, the
neo-nazis, and the whole sick white
power crowd know that we w ill not
stand fo r the poisoning o f our spirits.
I am asking that everyone reading
this letter carry this message to what­
ever organizations you belong to. It is
m y hope that every church, synagogue,
mosque, fraternal organization, sports
club, business, neighborhood associa­
tion and educational institution in this
c ity takes the time to educate members
about this growing menace. You can
report incidents and get inform ation on
how you can help by contacting the
Youth Gangs Project (823-4264), the
M etropolitan Human Relations C om ­
mission (796-5136), Portland Bureau
o f Police (823-1106) or Southeast U plift
Anti-racism Project (232-0010).
W e must educate ourselves and
our children to recognize perpetrators
o f hate crimes. M ore im portantly we
must report their activities to the police
and encourage both local and federal
D istrict Attorneys to vigorously prose­
cute these crim inals as organized gang­
sters devoted to the destruction o f our
nation.
I cannot sufficiently underscore the
danger presented by these race war
instigators. These lunatics really do
want to turn the Pacific Northwest into
a homeland fo r Klansmen, Nazis, and
other white supremacist fanatics. E v­
ery member o f the Chamber o f C om ­
merce, our tourism organizations, and
every citizen o f Portland should con­
sider the financial impact o f develop­
ing such a reputation.
We have a responsibility to put a
stop to this right now. Do not underes­
timate the seductive power o f an appeal
to racism, homophobia, sexism, and
anii-sem ilism . Hate movements thrive
on the w illingness o f the general public
to pretend that the movement is not
really happening. Remember, Hitler used
the seductive power o f hate to w in over
a society w hich had produced some o f
the finest poets, scientists, and philoso­
phers o f the 20th century.
The seductive power o f hate a l­
lowed a sick group to blow up four little
girls in an Alabama church. The seduc­
tive power o f hate enticed four o f our
com m unity’s teenagers to bludgeon a
man to death here on the streets o f
Portland. Unchallenged it becomes a
hideous addictive intoxicant.
I im plore you to make the e ffo rt to
speak out against the hate movement.
Teach your children, fam ily and friends
to recognize preachers o f hatred and to
report incidents o f verbal or physical
abuse. The bright prosperous and d i­
verse com m unity we share is at stake.
Sincerely
M ike Lindberg
Commissioner
O ffice o f Public A ffairs
CREED OF THE BLACK PRESS
The Black P r e « bellete* that A m erica can best lead the world away from social and
national antagonisms when It accords to every person, regardless of race, color, or
creed, full hum an and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person, the Black
Press strives to hclpe* cry person In the firm belief that all arc h u rt as long as anyone
Is held
back.
PORTLfitlD'OßSERVER
(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
The PORTLAND OBSERVER is
published w eekly by
Exie Publishing C om pany, inc.
4747 N.E. M.L.K., Jr. Blvd.
Portland, Oregon 97211
P.O. Box 3137
Port’and, O regon 97208
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FAX#: (503) 288-0015
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The Portland Observer - Oregon's Oldest African American Publication - Is a member
of The National Newspaper Association - Founded in 1805. and The National Advert s
ing Representative Amalgamated Publishers. Inc , New York, NY
tuted consistent efforts to deny equal
opportunity, racial justice, and a ffirm a ­
tive action.
We suggest that the greatest chal­
lenge that the c iv il rights movement
has in the 1990’ s is “ to pull the sheets
o ff” o f the blatant, racist im m orality
that is now being fostered by the high­
est authorities in the land. Rather than
negotiate a compromise o f principles
with representatives o f the White House
concerning Bush’s objections to the
C iv il Rights Act, c iv il rights leaders
need to expose the whole a ffa ir fo r
what it has become, i.e. a racist back­
lash against c iv il rights and racial prog­
ress.
In addition, we must leant and
remember that previous c iv il rights leg­
islation was enacted by Congress only
when there was a massive, grassroots
m obilization.
Every single com m unity through­
out the nation needs to demand that
Congress votes in favor o f the b ill and
to ovenide any veto by President Bush.
Now is the time once again to act.
To The Editor
Dear Editor:
I am an inmate at the Indiana State
Farm. Certain events have compelled
me to w rite this letter in an c flo rt to
reach out and elude the pain o f lo n e li­
ness that I ’ ve known so long. A t pres­
ent, 1 am confined to an area o f the
prison where there is an ever present
shadow. A t times, it becomes unbear­
able, and often I find m yself lost in the
mists o f despair.
Recently I became a Christian, an
as a result o f turning my misguided life
over to the Lord, life behind bars has
become more bearable.
S till, there’ s a desperate loneliness
w ithin that cries out for contact w ith
individuals other than those confined
here in prison. Due to the length o f my
incarceration, 1 have lost contact w ith
fa m ily and friends. This has left a void
that is unbearable. That is why 1 am
w ritin g this letter.
1 hope that you may find the space
in your publication to print my letter.
H opefully someone w ill respond. A
letter from anyone would dissipate the
loneliness and bring sunshine to my
life. Thank you fo r any consideration
you may give in my request. God Bless.
The Payoff For That Technical Motivation
In Support o f this parent-support
series on a home environment that
encourages interest in science and tech­
nology, let me add the following source.
The ‘ Edmund Scientific Company’ has
over the years been an excellent source
o f firs t rate science models, D o -il your­
self kits and instruments for all grades,
through high school as well and even
the university. W rite for a catalog, 101
E. Gloucester Drive, Barrington, N.J.
08007. (609) 547-3488.
Now, several times in the past few
months I have alluded to a highly tech­
nical workplace - quite sophisticated,
but which, nevertheless, was manned
in great degree by workers w ith less
than a college education. There is no
better example o f this phenomenon than
the M artin M arietta Alum inum Com ­
pany in the Dalles, Oregon (form erly,
Harvey A lum inum Company). I cite
this model because it draws on personal
experience and because the period
(1960s) is a facsim ile o f many contem­
porary operations I have examined in
the Portland area - i f not in size, cer­
tainly in terms o f applied technology.
Keep in mind that an Alum inum
Plant is a self-contained city that oper­
ates fu ll- till 24 hours a day, seven days
a week for the process by which the
metal is smelted demands that the ‘ m ix ’
prepared in scores o f huge ‘ pots’ re­
main molten at all times. Processed
metal (finished goods) is sim ply si­
phoned o ff as the occasion demands,
w hile new raw orc, etc. is added below
in a continuous process. Because o f
this nature o f the process and because
such huge, environm entally threaten­
ing facilities cannot be located near a
metropolitan area, every clement o f a
Sincerely,
Fred Patterson #903843 16-N
'
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A 200-year-old original, scribed
copy o f the B ill o f Rights w ill arrive in
Portland, Oregon, on June 19, trans­
ported in a 20th century, high-tech
caravan, as part o f a 50-state tour o f the
priceless document presented by Philip
M orris Companies Inc.
V irg in ia ’ s original copy o f the B ill
ofR ig hts is the centerpiece o fa 15,000-
square-foot m ultim edia exhibit which
w ill be on display free o f charge at the
Portland Expo Center from June 19-23.
Hours are: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. on June 19-
22 and from 10a.m .-5 p.m. on June 23.
Steeped in history but interspersed
w ith contemporary issues, the sights
and sounds o f the exhibit surround visi­
tors w ith a sense o f the document’ s past
and an appreciation o f its ever-chang­
ing nature in modem day society.
“ W ithout question, a tour o f this
magnitude is a m ajor logistical under­
taking,” said Guy L . Smith IV , vice
president o f corporate affairs for Philip
M orris Companies Inc. “ Just to move
this mammoth exhibit and provide
complete security, a caravan o f ve-
hicles-tractor tailcrs, vans, buses, and a
custom -b u ilt secure transport vehicle-
is required,” said Smith. “ To our
knowledge, no exhibit or special even
o f this proportion has never visited all
50 states.”
The recently restored Virginia copy
o f the B ill o f Rights was selected for
the 26,000-mile tour because o f its
historical significance, Smith explained.
V z g in ia and its leaders, including
James Madison and George Mason,
played a significant role in the intro­
duction and ratification o f the first ten
amendments to the U.S. Constitution,
known as the B ill o f Rights.
The B ill o f Rights Tour is pre­
sented by Philip M orris Companies Inc.
the w o rld ’s largest producer o f con­
sumer packaged goods.
»
h
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sure. The class includes role-playing,
activities that stimulate c ritica l th in k­
ing and discussion, and a tilin . T he cost
is $7.
Call the Red Cross at 284-0011,
ext. 176 to register for “ Neat Kids,
Safe K ids” and When I ’ m In Charge.’ ’
Scholarships and fam ily discounts arc
available.
PORTLflFPOBSERVER
200-Year-Old Bill
Of Rights Comes
ToTortland
H
designed to foster self-esteem and self
reliance., Children learn how to play
safely at home and outside, what to do
in an emergency, and how to be “ Buddy
Safe” . The cost is $5 per child; adults
arc free.
“ When I ’ m In Charge” w ill be
held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. It teaches
8-11 year olds ways to respond safely
to a variety o f “ home alone” situ­
ations, from phone calls to peer pres-
AMALGAMATED PUBLISHERS, INC.
Indiana State Farm
1500 West US 40
Greencastle, Indiana 46135
I ft AtA-f r • • • «<,» ♦ ♦ » $ • .♦
: *v.
railroad.
Then, it fo llo w s that in the Instru­
ment D ivision, o f the Electrical Engi­
neering Department where I worked,
there must be the devices and facilities
to measure and m onitor every type o f
physical phenomena one could imag­
ine: temperature, speed, flo w rate,
weight, displacement, PH, viscosity,
humidity, elevation, pressure, time, dew
point, azimuth, momentum, accelera­
tion, kinetic and potential energy, flash­
point, you name it. And all o f this is
done either on the spot or monitored
from a remote location (telemetry).
But, consider this; when a plant o f
this nature is by necessity b uilt in an
isolated area like the Dalles -a farm/
orchard com m unity - then the highly
skilled technical workforce one would
usually draw from an adjacent urban
area is not available. What you do is
im port a few skilled highly trained or
university-educated university types who
are given the lead lim e necessary to
train the first ‘green’ echelons o f a
workforce drawn from farm boys, con­
struction workers, sales clerks, cherry
pickers and the like (or in my particular
case, from the accounting dept.).
The point that 1 wish to make here
is that this situation is duplicated to
[greatly varying] degrees all over the
Portland M etropolitan Area (and over
the U.S.). The extent to which non-
collcge people are employed and trained
on the jo b depends on the relative so-
phistication o f the technology o f the
particular industry. But, in A L L CASES
there are going to be a number o f jobs
that do not require degrees in a specific
technical discipline. However, those
selected for em ploym ent w ill be those
who meet a screening and aptitude profile
enhanced by a solid core o f math and
science courses at the high school level.
A nd increasingly, skills in reading and
interpreting.
It is obvious, then w hy I empha­
sized last week the importance o f the
science orientation I got at home at an
early age: The books, the magazines,
the science kits, the science clubs and
peer group reinforcement, the field trips
etc. and all o f this is in direct relevance
to the frightening statistics I have been
citing on dropout rates and tracking
devices’ im pacting upon the A frican
American child. A t that Aluminum Plant
I had no d iffic u lty whatsoever muster­
ing the electronic technology, learning
on the job from manuals, correspon­
dence courses and peer group. The
concepts and term inology were not a
‘ foreign language’ and soon I was
T E A C H IN G OTHERS, building and
repairing, instruments and organizing a
kids science club in m y com m unity.
Now, that is exactly, what has to be
done in this com m unity i f our youth is
to survive and prosper in the “ NEW
W O R LD O R D ER .” Parents w ill have
to be assisted where they are not able or
motivated to provide the necessary
support for their children - for whatever
reason. It has been seen that the schools
have not done a very good jo b - again,
for whatever reason. M ore on this next
week, the projects I have going.
Youth Classes Offered together as “ Family A ffair”
Neal Kids, Safe Kids and When
I ’ m In Charge, award w inning A m e ri­
can Red Cross youth classes, w ill be
offered concurrently on the same day
Saturday, June 1, at the Am erican Red
Cross, 3131 N. Vancouver Ave., Port­
land.
“ Neat Kids, Safe K id s” is sched­
uled from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. This child
safety program is presented as a puppet
show for children ages 4 to 7. It is
Are • The • Proud • Sponsors • Of
Reinvestments
.
Community
Community Wide Preschool Health And
Developmental Screening Project
creening Kids Informing Parents
address their needs before health and
(SKIP) provides preschool-age
developmental problems become a
children (and sometimes infants and
deterrent to success in school and life.
toddlers) with screening in areas of
Its purpoes is consistent with a new
general and dental health, hearing, vision,
federal law (Public Law 99-457) re­
speech/language and motor skill devel­
quiring identification and service to
opment. It provides parents with infor­
preschool-age children with special
mation and connects them with serv­
needs.
ices, programs and other resources ap­
Screening is done by professionals
propriate to their children’s particular
and supervised college students who
needs and family income. Parents are
are studying professions directly re­
also provided with fun-at-home activi­
lated to the health and development of
ties to build their children’s skill level
young children. Community members
and confidence.
volunteer their time for the non-profes­
The purpose of this project is to
sional aspects of the screening. A play
reach high-risk children through a
area for brothers and sisters is super­
cooperative multi-agency approach and
vised by high school students from
parenting classes. Interpreters are pro­
and Hearing, Pacific University, Port­
vided to help non-English speaking fami­
land Community College, Mt. Hood
lies and to translate written materials.
Community College, University of Port­
Professional time is contriburted
land, Housing Authority of Portland,
from private practice and the following
AMA Head Start, Multnomah County
Department of Health and Human Serv­
schools and agencies: Oregon Health
ices, Multnomah Education Service
Sciences University, Portland State
District, Portland Public Shcools and
University, Portland Dental Hygiene
Association, Portland Center for Speech
Participating East Multnomah County
schools.
S
"Reinvestments in the Community” is a weekly column appearing
in API publications throughout the USA.
I
*•>_<• • a T' g ’- lz Ì&’T T ' '•.k *
supporting infrastructure must be du­
plicated in the isolated site: streets,
sewers, u tilities, fire and police depart­
ments, health and safety restaurants,
security - and garage and other repair
shops o f all kinds, loading docks, scales,
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