M ay 26, 1993 • T he P ortland O bserver
P age A2
p e r s p e c tiv e s
What’s In A Word?ll: Shakespeare And
The Africans Knew
Shakespeare was m aking the
point that words mean nothing where
love is coneerned-thc family names
o f Romeo and Juliet, respectively, the
Montagues and the Capulets How
ever, as we saw last week, the names
of people, places and things can prove
quite important when we try to recon
struct the true history of m ankind’s
past
Last week we cited a book by
Roland Wilbur Brown, "Composition
Of
S c ie n tific
Words” W hilethe
b o o k w as p u r
chased for the pur
pose o f devising
names in the tra
ditio n al m anner
for new scientific
concepts or spe
c ie s, th e te x t
proved to be a treasure house of cul
tural, ethnic and political history As
the author traced the origin and devel
opment of the words (“etymology”)
western civilization has inherited pri
marily from Greek and Latin roots, w e
were able to see that the ‘English'
language has been enriched by addi
tions from other cultures; for instance,
African (also Arabic).
The other book I mentioned that
yields some interesting exercises in
com parative linguistics was Anta
Diop s, “The African Origin o f Civi
lization” . There follow some quota
tions from the very informative book
by this great African Scholar ( and he
makes a good case for many other
contributions from Africa).
“A.s already indicated, it would be
most helpful to hav e a systematic study
o f the roots that passed from Negro
languages (Egyptian and others) to
Indo-European languages throughout
the period of their contact. Two parti
ciples could guide us in such a study;
1. The anteriority of civilization and
forms of social organization in Negro
countries, such as Egypt; 2. The fact
that a word expressing an idea of
social organization or some other cul
tural aspect, may be common to Egyp
tian and to Latin or Greek, without
appearing in other languages of the
Indo-European family For example
Maka: veteran, in Egyptian
Mag: veteran, venerable, in
W olof
Kay Mag he w ho is great, vener
able, in W olof
Kay a Magan the great, king This
term served to designate the Emperor
of Ghana from the third century to
approximately 1240 The language
was Sarakole (or a neighboring
tongue). In any event, it w as obviously
related to W olof
Magnus great,
in Latin the Latins
Professor did not count in his
McKinley tory before 500 B C .
Carle Magnus:
Burt
C h a rle m a g n e
Charles the Great,
first emperor of the
West.
Mega: great, in Greek The root
Magnus is not found in the vocabu
lary of Anglo-Saxon and Germanic
languages except as an obv ious bor
rowing from Latin.
Mac: Scottish proper name
Kora: musical instrument in West
Africa; Chocur: chant, in Greek.
Ra, Re: Egyptian god, symbol
ized by the sun, title of the Pharaoh.
Rog: celestial Serer god whose
voice is the thunder.
Rex: king, in Latin which in the
Romance language, becomes re, rey,
roi, whereas in the Anglo-Germanic
we hav e only king or Koning.”
“All things considered, when the
Nazis say that the French are Negroes,
if we disregard the perprejorative in
tention of that affirmation, it remains
well-founded historically, insofar as it
refers to those contacts between
peoples in the Aegean epoch. But that
is true not only of the French; it is even
more applicable to the Spaniards, Ital
ians, Greeks, etc., all those popula
tions whose completion, less white
than that of other Europeans, has wish
fully been attributed to their southern
habitat What is false in Nazi propa
ganda is the claim of racial superior
ity, but certainly the blue-ey ed blond
Nordic race has been the least mixed
since the fourth glaciation. These Nazi
theories prove what 1 said about the
insincerity of the specialists They
show, in fact, that the Black influence
on the Mediterranean is no secret for
any scholar: they pretend to be un
aware of it, yet use it when they feel so
inclined ”
There is much, much more to be
learned here and Mr. Diop reminds us
of certain Biblical connections "Re
turning to the question of whether the
Bible designated Ham’s descendants
and the Egy ptians by a term indicating
their skin color, we can answer affir
matively. The very name ‘H am ’
(Cham) is an ethnic term:
In Hebrew , Khanm: son of Noah
Khum: Chestnut
Khoni: heat
Khama: heat, the sun
In A ncient Egyptian, Khetn:
black, burned
Ham: hot, black
West African (Wolof), Khem:
black, burned”
As Diop dev elops w ell documented
'dictioniary s’ and etymologies of Af
rican languages and compares them to
similar renditions of Middle Eastern,
European and Asian languages, we
can well understand why the racists
among white scholars are so busy dig
ging up the most shaky-and poorly
d o c u m e n tc d —'e v id e n c e ’ for a
protoaryan origination of the world’s
languages (read some of the almost
hilarious articles by white linguists
appearing in the pages of Scientific
American magazine). All attempting
to disprove the contention by that great
black historian, W.E.B. Dubois—that
even in prehistory the "Negroid races”
are found to have settled all over the
world Diop gives us this, noting black
Eskimos and African names.
“Loto: canoe, in Wolof, and in
North American Indian languages (as
in Sara and Baguirmian).
Tul: name of a city in Sncgal.
Tule: name of an Eskimo land,
German song
Tula: name of a city in Mexico.
Inuit: men, in Eskimo (of. Gcssain.
Les Esquim aux du G roenland a ’
1’Alaska, p.5).
Init, Ai-nit: men, in Wolof.”
BY DR. LENORA FULANI
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Inc., New York, NY. and The West Coast Black Publishers Association •
Dr Benjamin S Chav is, the new NAACP standing with and fighting
Executive Director of the NAACP, for the Black masses Remarkably, in
wasted no time in demonstrating the a neighborhood w here the name of the
kind of course which he intends to NAACP is hardly a household word,
chart for the Association With the NAACP sw eatshirts were eagerly
whole nation awaiting the verdict in snapped up by grassroots people grate
the second Rodney King beating trial. ful that finally there is a leader who
Chav is immediately went to Los An understands and shares their agony,
geles to plea for justice and peace But pain and aspirations
Ben Chavis hit the ground run
instead of setting up his temporary
headquarters in a posh downtown ning, and his new mold of leadership
is already en
h o te l.
D r.
Here
was
gendering
very
Chav is went di
high
expecta
re c tly to the
a thoughtful, caring,
tions about the
“hood”
and
dynamic new leader of p ro sp e c ts for
stay ed in a hous
re a l c h a n g e
ing project in
the NAACP standing
with the chart
W atts. U nlike
ing of a new di
the c o sm etic
with and fighting for the rection for the
pass th roughs
NAACP. It is
for photo oppor
Black masses.
not just his his
tunities that the
toric
stay
in
Watts
that
has fueled such
Black masses have become accustomed
to from their “leaders,” the Chavis high expectations. W ithin days of be
visit to the Watts sy mbolized a sincere ing selected as the new Executive
commitment to address the concerns Director of the NAACP. Chavis was
of Black poor and working people and busy meeting with the Congressional
Black Caucus to explore the possibili
Black youth at the grassroots level.
From the vantage point of the ties of a Black Summit to develop an
“hood," the new Executive Director of agenda for Black advancement. In
the NAACP began to articulate a new this regard. Chav is also expressed his
vision for an organization which has resolve to work to create coalitions
loss touch with the most desperately and alliances with other people of
disadvantaged people in the Black color to adv ance a common agenda for
community While he appealed for oppressed people He went on the
calm, his emphasis was on the critical offensive urging Congressional ap
issue of jobs and economic justice. As proval ofPrcsident Clinton’s economic
he strode w ith Black youth, including stim ulus package w hich contains
gang bangers, through the neighbor funds for Summer jobs for y outh and
hoods of South Central, he repeatedly renewed the call for full employ ment
condemned the "Desert Storm" ty pe tocradicate the staggering unemploy
military/police presence surrounding ment in Black communities like South
impoverished communities and ne Central L. A.
Reacting to the assassination of
glected, abandoned people. With the
ANC
leader Chris Hani, Chav is fired
people at his side. Dr. Chavis warned
off
a
telegram
of condolence to the
America that while it could mobilize
a massiv e police presence to forestall family and the ANC and pledged the
yet another rebellion, America had continuing support of the NAACP for
failed to mobilize the resources to the liberation struggle in South Af
insure a just and lasting peace in the rica. And to underscore his commit
ment to a new priority on the problems
South Centrals of this nation
The images were not loss on the of African Amcricanyouth, Dr. Chav is
Black people of south Central, Black attended the Gang Summit held in
people across the country and the na Kansas City, Mo. and expressed his
ers and sisters in the "hood. ’
As I recently watched Dr. Chavis
address an enthusiastic audience at
the Medger Evers College in Brook
lyn, there was no question in my mind
but that here was a man who is dedi
cated to charting a new course for the
NAACP. The response to his address
was electric, filled with hope and ex
pectations for a revitalized NAACP.
While accepting the warm embrace of
the audience, however, Chav is cau
tioned those assembled that the chal
lenge of charting a new direction for
the NAACP and breathing new life
into the Black freedom struggle was
too awesome for them to bear alone.
He exhorted those w ho want to see the
Association reinv igorated to become
engaged in the process. In effect Dr.
Chavis was saying that this was not
his struggle, but our struggle.
This was an entirely appropriate note
for Dr. Chavis to sound Though he is
off to a very good start, the task of
reshaping the NAACP will be formi
dable. In the first instance we should
be aw are that not ev cry one inside the
organization was pleased with the se
lection of Dr. Chav is. No doubt his
detractors will be watching and wait
ing for him to stumble. Chavis also
inherits and organization which is
straddled with a fairly substantial debt.
And ev en under ideal circumstances,
the transition in terms o f gaining a
solid familiarity w ith the existing staff,
hiring new staff w here necessary and
developing good working relations
with the Board of Directors will take
time.
Having known Dr Chav is for many
years, 1 am confident that he is up to
these challenges. However, the chal
lenge facing all of us who are eager to
see the NAACP chart a new course is
to understand that it is really the people
who make change and make history,
not individual leaders. Hence, it is
incumbent upon us to prov ide maxi
mum support, to take ownership of the
process, and be patient as Dr. Ben
jam in S. Chav is stands shoulder to
shoulder with us in charting a new
fighting for economic justice for broth
The Fight For Democracy Is The
Fight Against Racism
^3ni*thxnh (©bscrver
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Charting A New Course For The NAACP: The
Expectations And Challenges Facing Ben Chavis
caring, dynamic new leader of the
"D on't call us, w e'll call you.” - I'm
still waiting for those calls.
When companies speak of how
hard it is to find good people to work
for them, especially minorities, I be
come very frustrated knowing that if I
and others in my position were to
apply, our applications would be filed
in the trash.
I would cherish an opportunity to
prove myself, to show that I have
much to contribute to a company, and
be able to do a good day’s work for a
day’s wages. I am trying desperately
to stay out of jail, get a decent jobs with
benefits, and be able to live a normal
life.
Will any one offer me a chance for
that “Equal Opportunity” as they say?
Sincerely,
James Carr, Jr.
Joyce Washington
Publisher
by Ron Daniels
3L
tion in general. Here was a thoughtful, determination to uphold the peace by course for the NAACP.
This Is My Story
Letter To The Editor
I am a 34 year old black male who
has been unsuccessfully looking for
work since December, 1991, when I
was released from a correctional facil
ity. It’s very frustrating to be a serious
job seeker and not be able to find vv ork
Most companies in Portland say (and
say this very proudly) that they are
“Equal Opportunity Employers” . I
have yet to experience the equal op
portunity they speak o f It’s discour
aging to apply for a position that 1
qualify for, interview and then not get
the job because: 1) I'm black. 2) I'm a
felon, and 3) being forced to work
many temporary positions to live has
given me a sporadic work history .
Employers don't come right out and
say these reasons are why I’m not
hired, but I’m sure this is w hat's hap
pening. I've had many employers say
I /ANTAGEroV..
, Stale
>code
F or R eading
P ortland O bserver
hank Y o u
he
___
cratic process.
When I ran an independent cam
Finally, the barriers to insurgent
paign for the presidency in 1988 and and independent candidates are mir
became the first African American rored by the barriers which prevent
and the first women ever in United American citizens from participating
Stales history' to get on the ballot in fully in the political process. Con
every state, it was probably the first gressman Penny’s same-day voter reg
moment that 1 truly grasped how ob istration bill would simply cut through
stinate and undemocratic our ballot- the elaborate and bureaucratic red tape
access laws actually arc. That year I that has been erected by state legisla
had to gather some 1.5 million signa tures around the country and make the
tures in comparison to roughly 40- activity of voting more directly con
50,000 required for the Democrat and nected to election day itself. This is
the Republican. My attorneys had to most critical to giving voters the op
go to court more than a dozen times- portunity to use elections as the Con
-in some cases building on litigation stitution intended-as an exercise in
initiated by John Anderson in his 1980 the expression of the will of the people.
presidential bid in order to secure a I just spent the last two weeks in Los
place on the ballot. In 1992 when Angeles, where a mayoral election
representatives of Ross Perot’s presi was held four days after the verdict in
dential campaign contacted my office the Rodney King case. The voters,
to find out if 50-statc access w as actu particularly in the Black and Latino
ally possible and how the hell we had communities, are deeply alienated
done it, believe me, we had quite a from the political process. How im
story* to tell them.
portant it would be to the healing and
The Fair Elections Bill, just rein rebuilding oi L A. if voteis-particu-
troduced into Congress by Rep. Timo larly young voters-we^e ab’e to go to
thy Pen’ of Minnesota as part of a the polls on election day to both regis
thiee-bill democracy package he has ter and vote!
assembled, redresses the most basic
I think a n’ea' de?.’ of credit is due
inequities in ballot access for inde to Congressman Penny for pursuing
pendents seeking federal office. Given these three b.t.s v,.in juch tenacity,
that the American people have made but 1 think the significance of the
abundantly clear that they want more legislation goes well beyond the par
choiccs-inchiding choices other than ticular restructuring they would ef
Democrats or Rcpublicans-this legis fect. Because we see in the coalition of
lation couldn’t come at a better time. forces supporting this package-inc’
In both 1988 and 1992 1 was ing John Anderson, the Libertarians,
barred from participation in major C o n n e c tic u t G o v e rn o r L ow ell
televised primary and general elec Weicker, the Patriot Parties spawned
tion debates. The legal and political by the Perot movement, and the New
controversy that evolved from that Alliance Party-an unusual alliance
exclusion focused congressional and which signals, in my opinion, a very
public attention on very critical as positive and explosive change in
pects of the national debate process; American politics. It is not common
most particularly on the lack of objec for a Black woman radical indepen
tive criteria for the inclusion of sig dent such r s mv self and a Minnesota
nificant independents and the lack of Congressman w ho is part of the "fis
any accountability to the public re cal conservative” wing of the Demo
garding the responsibility of major cratic Party to have a shared agenda-
parly candidates to participate in de but we do In fact, some so-called
bates Congressman Penny’s Democ liberal Democratic Congressmen have
racy in Presidential Debates bill tack refused to endorse the legislation be
les these two deficiencies in our demo cause they said they did not want to
align with the fiscal conserv atives in
their party. But in my view and, I
believe, in the view of the 20 million
Americans who cast ballots for Ross
Perot and other independent presi
dential candidates last year, those la
bels and traditional political catego
ries arc becoming obsolete. Instead,
Americans from very div erse commu
nities who have long been in conflict
with each other are coming together to
restructure the political process and
redefine the role of gov ernment as the
guarantor of the right of the people to
democratically rule.
Over the last half-century the
power of corporate PACs, of lobbyists
and of the two major parties them
selves has grown explosively. The
Democrats and Republicans have be
come instruments of self-preservation
and self-perpetuation, rather than of
the right of the people to self-govern.
C ongressm an P enny’s legislation
takes a bold step in the direction of the
sweeping political restructuring nec
essary in order to empower the .Ameri
can people.
As an African American I am
keenly committed to the principle that
the fight against racial intolerance
and injustice is intrinsically connected
te ’he f.ghi for more democracy. The
debate over slavery in America turned
on the very issue of whether the demo
cratic rights of human beings took
precedence over the right of business
and financial interests. America has a
’ong and tortured history on this mat
ter which is still unresolved. The po
litical and economic conditions of
African Americans and people of color
remain fundamentally second class,
and 1 believe that the structural ineq
uities which preserve racial bias in
America must and will be reorganized
by the kind of initiative being taken by
Congressman Penny In that light, I
think it is important that the most
aggressive and enthusiastic support
for the Penny legislation come from
the Congressional Black Caucus.
1
A