Page 2...The Portland Observer...June 24, 1992
p e r s p e c tiv e s
Are There Real Black Solutions To
“ The Black Problem?”
J "
state and local officials can take now to
cut spending,” said Blumenauer. “We
should return these savings to the pub
lic by providing new public safety ser
vices and reducing costs to the tax
payer.”
Blumenauer will speak at 10:30
a.m., Room 321, City Hall, 1220 S. W.
Fifth Avenue. Goldschmidt is chairing
I seem to have shaken up some
parents last week when I brought them
up to date on just how serious is the
situation of Oregon’s System of Higher
Education. According to the adminis
trators, fully one half of the college-
bound will find no slots by 1994! And
the remaining opportunities may be too
expensive for many.
It is rewarding to have those phone
calls from readers who are aware that 1
keep up my information base by sam
pling those out-of-town minority news
papers to see what arc the current prob
lems facing African Americans; educa
tion or otherwise. As useful as this may
be (on my part and others), I stand by
my suggestion that what is really needed
is an African American Education Sum
mit. There are many disturbing events
on the horizon-or closer, and it will
take a structured response to deal with
them.
For instance, the Voucher folks
have surfaced again with a vengeance.
The president of Yale University has
just resigned in order to head up the
most sophisticated private enterprise
firm yet to make a bid for the billions of
dollarsofTaxpayer Monies which might
be siphoned off from the public school
systems of the country. The glowing
public relations material already devel
oped by the multi-million dollar corpo
ration emphasizes choice and sheds
copious tears for the “disadvantaged
blacks forced to attend inferior schools”.
This Voucher/Choice movement
with its promise to emancipate both
minorities and whites from their “fai led
urban education systems” should not
catch us entirely by surprise. It was just
two years ago that here in Oregon we
were told by Oregonians For Educa
tional Choice, “Schools that must com
pete will improve or lose students”.
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(USPS 959-680)
OREGON’S OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN PUBLICATION
Established in 1970
Contributing W riters
McKinley Burt
Dan Bell
Mattie Ann Callier-Spears
Bill Council
John Phillips
Publisher
Alfred Henderson
O perations Manager
Joyce Washington
A ccounting Manager
Gary Ann Garnett
P ublic R elations
Chuck Washington
Sales & P rom otions
Tony Washington
Production Staff
Dean Babb
Gary Ann Garnett
Rea Washington
The PORTLAND OBSERVER is
published weekly by
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4747 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Portland, Oregon 97211
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He said further, “Another major
issue is the treatment of handicapped
students. Public Schools are required to
provide fair and equal education to
such students, including teachers and
appropriate services. Private School
Have No Such Legal Obligations”.
Hawkins conceded that Choice Pro
grams may help some students, but we
find him in consensus with the great
majority of thinking people across the
land. “Disadvantaged” people are just
that; they don’t have the means, tech
niques or organizations prepared to
deal with or evaluate these new
“Choice”
interface. They’re trying to catch
up with the Public Schools.
Now, what we find interesting is
the fact that there has been formed in
the cities of Los Angeles and Chicago,
a “Non-Profit Institute for Justice; a
national organization that mounts suits
for black parents Who Want Voucher
Systems. Also, we have it that in Chi
cago 46% of public school teachers
send their children to Private Schools.
It is probable that the same percentage
or greater obtains in most cities.; the
landscape is not clearly defined.
So it is that 1 suggested last week
that an “Education S ummit” is urgently
needed. Issues, options and systems
need to be examined and evaluated at
both the district school and higher edu
cation levels. This approach would in
clude socio economic strategies for the
family and for a more effective exploi
tation of employment opportunities in
respect to both student and parent. It
would be most rewarding if a perma
nent organization structure would
evolve from this interaction, one that
use the best expertise and information
technology available in the commu
nity. To be continued next week.
The Metropolitan Service District’s
North Portland EnhancementCommit-
tee has recommended 19 projects to
receive $100,000 in North Portland
Rehabilitation and Enhancement funds
for the 1992-93 fiscal year, according
toMctrocouncilorSandi Hansen,com
mittee chair. The comm ittee received
43 proposals with a total requested
dollar amount of $362,175.
The seven-member committee of
North Portland residents, appointed
by the North Portland Community and
Metro, solicits proposal and recom
mends how the funds should be use to
best benefit the area. In addition to
Hansen, com m ittee members Pam
Arden, Linda Crum, Steve Roso,
Beverly Scott, Jim Michels and Mark
Williams.
The fund was established in 1985
to benefit North Portland neighbor
hoods seen to be impacted by the St.
Johns Landfill. Funds were generated
by a fee of 50 cents per ton for material
disposed at the landfill. The landfill
was closed to commercial haulers in
October 1991. Rehabilitation and en
hancement fees arc no longer collected,
but interest has accrued on the remain
ing principal. It is the goal of the
committee to perpetuate the funding
to help meet the needs of the commu
nity and add to its enrichment and en-
hanccmentCurrcntly, there is more than
$2 million in the fund. The money set
aside for projects is part of the annual
interest earned by the fund.
With the 19 new grants, the com
mittee has funded 75 projects totalling
$511,469. Not all projects funded re
ceived the full amount requested. Most
of the proposals had matching funds in
the form of either cash, material or
labor, making the grant impact at much
higher dollar amount.
$400 grant request from the Ken
ton Neighborhood Association to hire a
jazz group to play at the Peninsula
neighborhood staging area in Kenton
Park on July 12, 1992. The Peninsula
Neighbor Ride will be the first in a
series of rides hosted by neighborhood
associations and sponsored by the Bu
reau of Transportation.
$4,000 grant request from the Ken
ton Neighborhood Association to sup
port the distribution of 16,5000 copies
of Neighbors Between the Rivers, a bi
monthly publication distributed to all
residents of North Portland.
$$6,000 grant for Phase II of
Project TAPROOT requested from the
Kenton Neighborhood Association to
continue the planting of 300 trees o the
north and south berms of North Colum-
bia Boulevard extending from 1-5 free
way overpass border by Kenton, to
North Chautauqua. The object is to
provide visual beautification of the in
dustrial area, as well as being a noise,
odor and toxic filter for the community.
$500 North Portland Alano Asso
ciation grant to be used to create more
available meeting space in the present
facility.
$2,290 Northwest Ecological Re
search Institute grant for Smith-Bybee
Wildlife Watch program involving
residents of North Portland, from stu
dents to retired people, in monitoring
wildlife at Smith and Bybee lakes and
enhancing habitat.
$ 15,000 North Portland Enhance
ment Committee grant to help quali
fied low-and moderate-income first-
time home buyers to purchase a home
within the North Portland enhance
ment area boundary. This grant will
be tied in with other lending sources to
add to the available money for low-
and moderate-income potential home
buyers.
$20,000 Open Meadows Learn
ing Center grant to exercise an option
to purchase the historic Benson-
Chancy building to house the center,
an essential alternative education ser
vice for North Portland youths.
DIVE INTO THE FUTURE
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They mounted a very active campaign
which, had it succeeded, would have
amended the Oregon constitution; Bal
lot Measure 11, “School Choice Sys
tem, Tax Credit For Education Outside
Public Schools.”
And across the country in Milwau
kee, 1990, we saw a Choice Program
passed into law where the state was
sending $2500 per pupil to private
schools for students whose parents had
elected to make that “choice”. Unfortu
nately in these programs, the money
sent to private schools is subtracted
from money available to the public
schools. The amount is “written-in
stone” whether the private school is
charging $600 or $6,000 per family.
The Milwaukee law was later declared
unconstitutional, but as we have seen
the idea is very much alive and has well
financed, national backing.
The very serious problems that a
Voucher/Choice system holds for pub
lic schooling and minority or disadvan
taged students in particulate were very
well articulated some time ago; locally
by the City Club and, nationally, by
African American legislator, Augustus
Hawkins of California. In an unani
mous report the local organization con
cluded about Ballot Measure 11, “too
vague in its approach to open enroll
ment, too ambitious in diverting fund
ing from public to private education
and too restrictive of further regulation
of non-public education.”
Mr. Hawkins got right to the heart
of the matter in the national press,
“close evaluation of Voucher/Choice
programs reveals that they are neither
the bargain nor salvation the creators
would have you believe... Private
schools making the decisions on eli
gible students select those with the best
grades who are the easiest to educate.”
Committee Recommends 19 North
Portland Projects For Funding
a task force to scrutinize local services
in M ultnom ah, W ashington, and
Clackamas Counties for overlapping
functions and duplication. The group
will report to Governor Barbara Rob
erts in August.
JJnrtlatth QDbseruer I
by Professor McKinley Burt
Education Update Continued
Blumenauer To Announce Recommendations
To Goldschmidt Task Force
City C om m issioner Earl B lu
menauer will hold a news conference
Monday to announce his recommenda
tions to a task force chaired by former
Governor Neil Goldschmidt that could
save millions of tax dollars by restruc
turing state and local government ser
vices.
“Most of these proposals are steps
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parents to reclaim responsibility for
their children’s education despite the
racist tendencies of the Portland school
system.
Traditionally, Black people have
stressed escaping the effects of racism
and poverty through education. And
while there has been some gains for
Blacks in education, the link between
todays Black violence and deficits in
education is strong. This is all con
nected to the lack of self-esteem and
powcrlessness rooted in generational
poor education of Black youth that
leaves them generally unprepared to
compete economically in todays soci
ety. Realistically the education sys
tem will not be changed anytime soon.
BY JAMES L. POSEY
But the truth that if Blacks took it upon
Some have accused this writer of
themselves
to read more, at least I am
raising issues without providing solu
sure
there
would
be fewer artificial
tions. I’m willing to accept that criti
initiatives
focused
on ways to deal
cism if those who make it will acknowl
with
Black
violent
behavior.
In Port
edge that B lacks have always presented
land
and
across
the
country
the
number
a range of solutions. Just read WDBDe
one cause of death for
Bois, M arcus Garvey,
young Black males is ho
Malcolm X, Rev. King
micide. The call from
and more too many to
" Because although we know Blacks
the county’s chief medi
mention.
And while
are not getting an equal quality education
cal
officer was to discuss
many Blacks and Whites
the
prospects of an up
in this country and certainly not in Port
would engage in much
com
ing grant dealing
gnashing of teeth and
land, there ain’t no chains on library
with
Black youtheffeeted
wring of hands over what
by violentenvironmcnts.
doors,
no
one
is
twisting
Black
parents
to do about “the Black
While I have an interest
arms making them spend money on rap
Problem,” the solutions
in the project, I could not
have always been abun
CDs rather than books. ”
help but to think that the
d an t and ab u n d a n tly
time and money could be
clear. Let’s look at one.
better spent by helping
What do you think
young Black people improve their read
alcohol and whatever else to this chem
Alice Walker, renowned author of "The
ing skills. If 1 had any thing to do with
istry
and
what
can
you
expect
-
“Boon
i
.”
Color Purple," The Gabi’s Restaurant
it, the focus would not be just on read
The
larger
community
must
know
by
situation, and a call from the county’s
ing for fun but to identify opportunities
now
that
Blacks,
particularly
Black
chief medical officer have in common.
and
make economic change. As bor
males
are
angry
and
mad
as
hell
and
Can you image some connection be
ing
as
the notion might sound, 1 would
especially
prone
to
violence
(and
we
tween them and how black solutions are
try
to
get
young Black people into the
ain’t
just
talking
kids).
The
point
is
that
applied to “the Black Problem?” Let’s
habit
of
reading
documents like pro
much
of
this
violence
is
directly
related
look at the three seemingly unrelated
gram operation budgets. Because if
to
what
everyone
knows
-
historical
factors.
you ask me, this is where the real
lack of education that eventually means
Talking about relationships with
violence takes place against Black
fewer
economic
opportunities.
But,
her family, in an interview with Diane
people.
It may be a bit dry at first, but
let’s
be
clear,
this
is
not
a
“
let
us
blame
Sawyer on national TV, Diane asked
if
you
want
to read a real horror story
the
white
folks
article.”
Because
al
Alice asked if her portrayal of Black
for
example,
get a copy of Portland
though
we
know
Blacks
are
not
getting
men beating up on Black women in her
DevelopmentCommission’s
1992 bud
an
equal
quality
education
in
this
coun
novel "The Color Purple " stirred much
get
and
sec
if
you
can
gel
emotionally
try
and
certainly
not
in
Portland,
there
resentment from her brothers. She
rapped up in why die African Ameri
ain’t no chains on library doors, no one
quickly replied to Ms. Sawyer, “You
can
community is excluded. Not just
is
twisting
Black
parents
arms
making
must presume my brothers read.” Al
picking
on the PDC, get a copy of the
them
spend
money
on
rap
CDs
rather
though the entire interview was thought
Port
of
Portland or any of the oilier
than
books.
A
simple
solution
is
that
provoking, the thing that jumped out at
large
municipal
bodies and read the
Black
people
have
fewer
choices
than
me was the suggestion that you can’t
same
gruesome
plot.
whites,
therefore
they
must
make
belter
take for granted that Black people are
So I hope I have made the point, as
choices, particularly when it comes to
reading. This simple realization may
one
simple
Black solution, reading is
children.
The
need
for
better
Black
have something to do with how Black
more
than
fundamental,
it’s essential
education
is
one
area
where
1
am
in
people act, violently or otherwise. More
to
changing
the
status
quo
and under
com
plete
ag
reem
en
t
w
ith
the
importantly, I think you can safely
standing
the
concept
of,
“the
survival
“Herdonites.”
Except,
1
would
focus
assume that this discussion explains to
of
the
fittest.”
more
on
the
need
to
encourage
Black
a large degree Black people’s response
or lack of response to their condition.
Near the end of the interview, Alice
acted like Diane was about to gel on her
last nerve. But Alice presented the
historically simple but powerful solu
tion that as a first step. Brothers and
Sisters must be about reading.
Well how does reading and vio
lence play in the Gabi’s restaurant and
club situation? If you’ve been follow
ing the story you know that the Oregon
Liquor Control Commission has been
try ing to close the cIub down because of
alleged violent activity. 1 guess I’m
trying to make a point. As we all know
thcie is an epidemic of violent activity
in our community that it’s not going to
be stopped or even slowed by closing
that particular establishment. Many
young people who frequent places like
Gabi's are cranked and juiced with
adolescent energy, packed with frus
tration, and have long since abandoned
real prospects for the future. Add some
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l'o m o i row's u o ild needs people w ith hig h -te ch job skills. and die a b ility lo
p rovide leadei ship in a h ig h -le t h w ork e n v iio n in e n t In die N a n . to u n g
men and wom en aie le a rn in g those skills Imliiy. W ith h ig ll-le t It tra in in g and
job o p p o rtu n itie s , the Navy ta n p ro vid e an o p p o t (unity to get a head-stall
on the fu tu re . l i n t l out m ore fro m to u t loeal N a w r e n u i le i .
zip-code____________________ |
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