F ebruary 5, 1993 • T he P ortland O bserver
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Health Care, Education And Science
Programs: Getting Around The System
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This Way For Black Empowerment
By D r. Lenora Fulani
The Time For Independent Politics Is Now!
Last week, while our nation’s
capital geared up for the inauguration
of Bill Clinton, the cause of indepen
dent politics took a significant step
forward. Along with Emmett ash,III,
an African American leader of the
Perot movement in California, I held
a press conference in W ashington to
announce our intention o f joining
forces to form a national third party.
President Clinton takes office in
the midst of a volatile international
situation-the U.S. military is right now
actively engaged in Iraq, Somalia and
the high seas beyond Haiti. He lakes
office in the midst o f a staggering
economic crisis: several days ago the
Labor Department announced that it
has been using seriously flawed meth
ods for measuring unemployment lev
els and that the unemployment rate is
higher than reported He takes office
amidst a swirl o f government corrup
tion, ranging from the Savings and
Loan and BCCI scandals to sexual
harassment of women on the job to
Congressional check bouncing she
nanigans. Bill Clinton takes office as
our educational system faces crisis-
level underfunding, and clashes over
curriculum are tearing communities
apart.
The media have alternated be
tween lavish accounts of the
American people’s “honeymoon”
with the new administration and criti
cism of its broken promises. In my
opinion, this is not the time to criticize
the new president, like millions of
Americans across the country, I am
interested to see what the new presi
dent and his team can do. We have to
be rooting for Clinton to bring some
relief to our people, who are suffer
ing. But although we must be hopeful,
it is hardly the lime to count on him.
While many of us feel every good-and
rightly so-about getting rid of the
Bush/Reagan regime and its negative
and reactionary policies, we cannot
forget for one moment that these poli
cies are typically introduced, funded
and executed with bipartisan support
The deficit is a product of bipartisan
m ism anagem ent o f the economy.
Poverty and racism have spread can-
cerously undersuccessive Democratic
and Republican administrations. Any
one who says we should hold off on
building a third party in order to give
Bill Clinton achance misses the point
of how this country is actually gov
erned. They also miss the point of
what the voters said they wanted in
1992.
T w enty m illion people voted
independent on November 3. There is
a manifest desire on the part o f the
American people for a fundamental
restructuring of the political process.
Some people active in politics
are acutely aware that this is not the
time to sit back and wait to see what
happens, one of those insightful activ
ists is Ross Perot.
Recently he was quoted in the
New Y o rk T im es: “Clinton was
strong as horseradish on government
reform during the campaign.
When their delegation came down
there to see me that day, when I was
deciding whether to get back in the
race, they were going to get rid of
lobby ists, they were going to get rid of
big money. But there’s been a drift
since. They talk about their new eth
ics rules, but what they’ve left out is
that they’ve left all those lobbyists in
place who gave them big money.”
Perot said that at first he intended
to “ Back off and give this Clinton
group a little time.” But he decided
instead that this was in fact the mo-
men t to “create a counter-pressure” to
____
p
I
1 wish to thank my readers for
their informed response to this series
on African American contributes to
medicine and the health sciences In
ease you didn’t know, it really makes
a w riter’s day when those calls and
letters indicate that this newspaper
has made a valuable contribution of its
o w n-to parents and operators of pro
grams dedicated to the motivation and
education of our youth
Where to start? First, we will
comment on that community interest-
-beforc furnishing some more relevant
history . While I appreciate the cita
tions of a number of my ow n pioneer
ing efforts in using novel means to
secure more medical education op
portunities for black youth, 1 am still
unhappy because my African Ameri
can “friends” and those knowledge
able in the field never called or offered
support for several highly publicized
programs. Those efforts could cer
tainly have used more resources and
could have reached an even broader
constituency. F o rtu n ately , m any
w hites picked up the slack; people of
no more means than ourselves who
helped with paper work, transporta
tion.
I mention this because at the
present time 1 have identified several
vacant “evolutionary niches” in the
development of educational resources
for African Americans in the fields of
medicine and health care. At the same
time I am hearing from grassroots
people in the community who com
plain that they have both energies and
commitment, but are shut out of the
process. I say to them “tell me about it;
I, too call those w hom you refer to as
community wheeler dealers or Talk
ing Heads on the cable channels”.
How well they have learned “Old
massas” ‘jargon, e g .” B.S.”
As busy as I am in the develop
ment of my own new programs in the
medical, science and math fields (fund
ing guaranteed), I, nevertheless, gath
ered a group of these "real People”
together recently and explained to problem existed
them the innovative and “indepen-
I break it down to t em. ow a
dent" techniques 1 used to launch my 1 do folks, is innos ate t ac nven
two largest successful medical educa- tors). I read the urban script, i enti y
non programs “At Portland State the problem, design a remedial struc-
University 1 became aware of the re- ture, sell and involve key people with
the required academics and realtime
sources available because I consis
expertise;
then launch a mini-pro
tently read out-of-town newspapers,
gram
with
my
own meager resources,
looking for new ideas I secured a
ten
dollars
for
incorporation,
and some
$100,000 grant simply by calling up
loaned-executive - people from any or-
...... & ---
Los Ull^VIVO
angeles ($3 60) and gaining
the ---
support of two female African Ameri- ganization that is going to benetit
r___ ____
T h is n m /a tin n
can doctors who were operating a from my initiatives. This anization
that
is
going
to
benefit
from my initia
federally funded medical education
tives.
This
has
worked
like a charm,
program. They were delighted that
going
back
to
The
Dalles,
Oregon
others were interested ”
C
om
m
u
n
i
c
a
t
io
n
s/M
a
t
h
e
m
a tic s
At this point it was absolutely
Project
in
1966
(National
Science
necessary to get across to my group
that 1 have never answ ered a "RFP" or Foundation), and continuing on
a "Request For Proposal ” That is, the through my Medical Education Project
usual way a grant is gotten is that a at the Prov idence Medical Center and
federal agency related to health, edu other hospital in 1986.
Then 1 told my group, "The next
cation, transportation, etc. determines
that there is a specific public need in step is to let the right people know
their field and resident experts w ithin w hat you are doing—this is real, come
that agency (usually W ashington, and see for yourself: Congressman,
D C.) will design a program tailored Gov ernment Agency, Industry, Foun
to achieve the objective. These pro dation, whoever. Believe me, they w ill
grams and the amount of funding come, local or national, and I am
available are listed in the “Federal contacting those kinds of people. Now
Register” along with information on about my new ‘year 2000 initiatives in
where to obtain a “Request For Pro Health, Education and Science. The
posal.” A person or organization w ish only problem I have is that several
ing to obtain such a grant is automati national companies and one of the
cally in competition with all others in foundations think my kind of program
the country who must complete this should be based in Los Angeles or
voluminous document in order to Chicago because more youth can be
qualify (the same procedure for pri reached there.”
I didn ’ t get a chance to get back to
vate foundation).
our
black
health pioneers this week,
1 pointed out to my little group
but
1
did
want
to cite a point made by
(relevant to their own situation) that
several
of
our
readers.
“Mr. Burt, did
the reason I never sent in a “RFP” was
you
note
that
most
of
these African
that the experts in the agencies always
American
Scientists
whose
accom
specify academic and experience cri
plishments
excelled
throughout
the
teria that match their own e g Physi
cian, nurse, engineer, mathematician, w orld atte n d e d A m erican H igh
career scientists, advanced degrees Schools before the 1920’s or 1930’s-
and so forth In other words, these -thosc dilapidated, run dow n, poorly-
people believe that only their peer lit, leaky ghetto buildings with poor
group has competency in the given laboratory equipment and outdated
field. Never mind that their "peer books? “I suggested that it "must have
group" has never been mentally alert been the teaching that made a differ
enough to even recognize that the ence. Aha!
the new administration.
When he held a press confer
ence to launch his membership drive
into United We Stand, A m erica-
which will be a grassroots lobbying
organization-Perot said he would
consider it a personal failure if he had
to run for q second time in 1996. I
agree. If he has to run in 1996 as he
ran in 1992, it will represent a fail-
u re -b u t not on his part; it will mean
that the leaders of the independent BY JAMES L. POSEY
peared to be many Black employ ees.
political movement can’t get our act
For years groups and indiv iduals But now the store apparently employs
together. Because while a rerun of have been trying to get Safeway and only a handful of African-Americans,
’92 would mean that our movement i othcr food chains in the “Hood” to do and none appear to be in money
has stalled, it would gc quite another
rjght thing. The Black United making, skill positions. There arc no
matter if Mr. Perot or another inde Front over the last several years has Black managers, no Black butchers,
pendent candidate ran with the back lead the fight, building on the earlier and only one Black baker, who ap
ing of a national, grassroots, inde work of more fervent versions of the pears to be a trainee. To add insult to
pendent electorial people’s machine Urban League and NAACP. No mat injury, there are only a few Black
with organization and ballot lines in ter how you look at it, some progress security guards on staff.
But according to the King Neigh
every state and with the active par has been made. But the truth is, it’s
ticipation of millions of Americans. always been a struggle to get them to borhood Association, the store has
W hile Perot himself may be de stick with a commitment to hire, train make several improvements in their
clining the opportunity to consoli and prom ote A frican-A m ericans overall management. In fact, the asso
date his followers into a third party, above token levels. So while their ciation recently presented the store
there is no question that significant overall hiring record o f A frican- with an award keeping the store clean
numbers of those who voted inde Americans throughout the Portland and improv ing customer relations. But
pendent this past November-not to metropolitan area may be OK, the it seems the award was based more on
mention th e 45% of theeligible elec numbers at the MLK & Ainsworth the fact that, in contrast to Fred
torate who still did not go to the store is shameful.
Meyer’s, Safeway has not abandon
p o lls-w an t a third parly. Those who
It’s a shame not only because of the community. Maybe we should all
voted for Ross Perot or for me or for the small numbers, but because this be gratified by this fact, but as 1 see it,
Dr. John Hagelin of the Natural Law store started with so much hoopla and Safeway's efforts are motivated more
Party or for Andre Marrou of the promise. Now it appears to be back by profit than community loyalty.
Libertarian Party did not, in my vie w, sliding rapidly. Most remember how
To be fair, Safeway is probably
cast those votes in favor of leaving Safeway did a great job of promoting more responsive to African-Ameri
the two party arrangement intact. the newly-remodeled store against the can community needs than most large
Those 20 million voles established backdrop of the closure of the Walnut companies. But they still could do
that there exists, in the United States Park Fred Meyer store Everybody much better and could set an example
of rviiiviivau
American tuuu;,u
today, a viable and un- kiiows
for i u other
companies
example, i I
ut
u iv i u
m i i m i u u . i For
ui vvauipiv,
knows Inal
that me
the rrea
Fred ivieyer
Meyer’s s eiubuic
closure iu
tapped market fora major new politi- strucka nearly fatal blow to an already have never seen an African-American
A 1 •“
* A « .
a
■ • "
___a —
—
A A« 4 A 4 A , C 4 A O C « ■ ’ A a , A a"
cal
party.
depressed business environment on pharmacist at any of the Safeway or
We have millions of Americans MLK Blvd. So it looked then like Fred Meyer’s stores. It's a sad irony to
who are ready to buy in on such a Safeway was coming to the rescue
know that in the midst of all the illegal
party. All we have to do is bring it to
Well it seems like the rescue was drug dealing, Safeway and Fred
the political marketplace!
short lived, and it' s back to business as Meyer’s can push legal drugs in the
usual. After the renovations, Safeway absence of any Black participation
"1 hi red a female African-American store Everybody knows there is profit in
J -------------
n inna per „nj showcased what aD- druedealinK. Instead of these comna.
Safeway Could Do It Better
a
e r s p
I
e c t i v
by Professor M cK inley B urt
a
a
a
nies giving token donations to Black
non-profits, they should institute a
program to recruit and develop Afri
can-American pharmacists.
The point I’m trying to make in
all of this, is that if Safew ay and other
companies would make a more sub
stantial investment in Black educa
tion and economic development, they
would end up investing less in the
installation of security sensors at their
entrances. Come to think of it, I have
not seen security sensors at any other
Safeway in Portland, or anywhere else
for that matter. 1 just happen to believe
that if Blacks had decent jobs paying
livable wages, they would be less likely
to steal. With the Black unemploy
ment rate at about 25%, it should not
surprise any body that Black folks will
eat regardless of whether they have
jobs.
What is most disturbing about all
this is the fact that this battle is fought
over and over again. Safeway and
other companies never seem to get the
message. And, some Black folks seem
to be satisfied with token change. It’s
nearly impossible to make genu
ine progress if we continue to fight the
same battles.
I apologize if Safeway is doing
more than I am able to observe. But
from my point of view, Safeway could
do more to live up to it’s slogan, “ No
one can do it better.”
James Posey is a local, small busi
ness owner with a background in so-
»•ZXB-L»
■ . « i 4« ,
a a
a a
e s
African Worlds When Haiti Was Queen
It is difficult for either black or
white Americans to grasp the depth
and impact o f the African presence
in Europe at the time Haiti was free
and “Queen of the Caribbean”. It
created a legacy so strong and com
pelling, that 150 years later a so
journing African American novel
ist, James Baldwin was able to say,
“over there, I felt free; like a man I
could breathe and think, touch my
soul.”
This was relative o f course, but
that statement about a vastly im
proved condition for people of color
provides a meaningful opportunity
to recreate our European stage of
the early, nineteenth century. We
cannot escape the all-pervading in
fluence o f that “general-who-would-
be-Emperor,” Napoleon Bonaparte.
Like an ambitious and successful white
coach o f an all-black NBA team, he
scoured the world for the ebony-hued
m astersofthedisciplines which could
propel him to an ultimate glory; Haiti
was just one source.
Not only did he import the best of
Haiti to France, but Napoleon went
back to an Africa 4000 years earlier
when, during a war with England in
Egypt, he lined his troops up before
the great African Pyramid and told
them, “ Forty centuries of greatness
look down upon you.” He Promptly
proved his point by bringing back to
France every African cultural and in
tellectual property he laid his greedy
hands on (It was a deliberate and
methodological plunder such as the
world had never seen). His “mili
tary” expedition included several
shiploads of scientists, mathemati
cians, artists, astronomers and schol
ars. And those cultural and intellec
tual riches they brought back changed
the world.
Napoleon may have lost the war,
but the booty brought back was more
than enough to get the famed “Lou
vre Museum” off to a flying start.
There was the fabulous “ Empire
style” of furniture and dress that Eu
rope went wild about—and later
Americans who were quick to imi
tate the “Continental” modes. And
there were the African modes of
mathematics and surveying which so
influenced the discipline (and still
does); the so-called “Fibonacci Se
I. a
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.
ries” cruc ial to genetic s, nuc lear phys tions) all of these things I have de
ics and much else. This series may be scribed and much, much more. The
derived from structural relationships famous “Newton” and his depen
in the Pyramid, but this visiting Ital dence upon the design and geometry
ian is given the credit. (Closely re of the Pyramid to verify his “Theory
lated is the universal constant “Phi", of Uni versa! Gravitation”. Tompkins,
useful in the study of the refraction of Peter, “Secrets of the Great Pyra
mid”, N.Y., Harper & Row, 1971
light, and laser technology).
Another European who recog (book shows M crcator/Fibonacci
nized the signTicance of the intellec graffiti on Pyramid).
African architectural concepts
tual wealth of Africa was the map
maker ' Mercator” whose famous ren were also brought back-thcse too
dition of the earth changed that disci were to change the world. That great
pline forever. A g ain.asinthecascof Paris landmark,”Thc Arch dc Tri
the “Fibonacci Scries Phi, a high umph ," is an exact replica of the main
school student can be shown how to gate o f an ancient Egyptian city that
derive the function from the geom the Greek oral poet, Homer, so elo
etry of the Great Pyramid (I’ve done quently described, “ Mighty Many-
it). There is a very excellent book Gated Thebes, one of the seven won
available that details (with illustra ders o f the world”. The same with
:
that famed “Eifel Tower”, a striking
imitation of the African “obelisks”,
seen not only in Eqypt, but through
out the northern half of Africa. In the
United States the best examples of
modem appreciation of this classic
African design arc “The Washington
Monument” and the “New York Obe
lisk" in Central Park.
The latter monument is an origi
nal, brought from Africa in 1881 at
the height of popularity of these
“Cleopatra’s Needles.”
For some fascinating reading
about the world’s fascination with
these structures, sec the book by
Tomkins I cited. Also see Habachi,
Labib “The Obelisks of Egypt; Sky
scrapers of the Past”, N.Y., Charles
Scribricrs & Sons, 1977.