•• • P age A 5 T he P ortland O bserver • A ugust 16, 1995 Minority Business For The Year 2 0 0 0 And Beyond; Part I by P rof . M c K inley B ürt It is certainly not a case o f “ Here We Go A gain!” The American eco­ nom ic and p o litic a l p icture has changed the business environment for all and sundry and in a most drastic manner; at all levels o f entre­ preneurship and for all races and classes. Yet the fundamental prereq­ uisites for success remain the same: Preparation and commitment. In this current approach to meth­ ods fo r achieving a better share o f the Am erican/Portland economic pie, what we most emphatically w ill not do is take more than a passing note o f those really high-flying black enter­ prises. Though Ebony and Black Enterprise magazines like to feature these ventures in detail, we think the more “ meat-and-potatoes” type op­ erations make for better models and learning techniques fo r the m ulti­ tude. Besides, look at what is hap­ pening to many o f them because there is not a supporting m inority econom­ ic and social substructure. Just briefly: TLC Beatrice Inter­ national Holdings, Inc. has had a rocky and uncertain road as the na­ tio n ’ s largest black-owned company (Over a billion dollar valuation). This food distribution business, founded by the late Reginald E. Lewis, has been run by his w idow, an immigrant Asian attorney and as indicated in a recent network show (Pinnacles), the business is no longer considered “ black,” or nearly as promising. A strong tide o f disappointment has run through America’ s black com m unities at a ll levels since Johnson Products Co. o f Chicago, one o f the nation’ s most prominent black-owned fam ily businesses (hair care) merged w ith IV A X Corp., a white-owned cosmetics and pharma­ ceutical conglomerate. Perhaps to­ ward the end o f this series we might consider how in many cases some foresight and planning might prevent these “ cultural losses” occasioned by death or divorce. A t a recent meeting o f a new crop o f prospective m inority entre­ preneurs, I was questioned about two in particular o f my past experiences. Teaching business at Portland State University and at the Northeast ex­ tension campus, and as Advisor to M in o rity Business for the Model Cities program. Since as before, my advice/curriculum is drawn from real­ time experience as a business owner and accountant for scores o f d iffer­ ent types o f enterprises, there was appreciation that I brought in some current practitioners and successful former students (now 20-year veter­ ans). A fter dealing with information retrieval (and glut), marketing, pur­ chasing, leasing, form design and control and the aspects o f accounting that N O C O M PU TER C AN DO “ FOR” YO U , it was pointedly re­ vealed that “ we” still have some struc­ tured disabilities related to establish­ ment prescribed “ plantation econom­ ics.” A frequent plaintive query was “ how do we start a business without the playing field leveling provided by “ set-asides,” which definitely seem on the way out?” Some may remember that years ago, I anticipated the eventual phase­ out o f this institutionalized disability Wilson Keeps Up Push On Affirmative Action Gov. Pete Wilson o f California is now the point man in the fight to eliminate affirm ative-action pro­ grams based on race and sex. In speeches across the country, and in a successful push to eliminate preference programs in the Universi­ ty o f California system, the governor has seized upon an issue that by all accounts commands the attention o f many Americans. But this is a 180-degree switch for Wilson, one he has made rapidly since affirmative action shaped up as a major issue in the 1996 presidential campaign and he decided to get into the race. For most o f his 30 years in pub­ lic life, Wilson, a Republican, has strongly supported race- and sex- based preference programs in hiring, contracting and college admissions. As recently as last September, he signed a b ill to make it easier for minority-owned businesses to quali­ fy for state aid, among the most c rit­ icized types o f affirm ative-action programs. And in October, just be­ fore winning a second term as gover­ nor, he said, “ I have long supported set-asides as a means to assist tradi­ tionally underrepresented business­ es.” Set-aside programs reserve a share, sometimes fixed, o f govern­ ment contracts for minority-owned businesses. In the months since he became an opponent o f affirm ative action, W ilson has said that his earlier advo­ cacy, during his days as mayor o f San Diego in the 1970s and early 80s and for years afterward, stemmed from a need, then acutely felt among m il­ lions o f Americans, to make up for the nation’ s history o f discrimina­ tion. In any case, he has said, as mayor he needed to comply with federal laws requiring preferences. “ But 30 years later,” he said at a recent news conference in Burbank, “ it is impossible to say that we should continue to discriminate against bet­ ter-qualified applicants in favor o f lesser-qualified applicants who have experienced no discrimination, and to penalize those who have practiced no discrimination.” Some o f W ilson’ s critics con­ tend that his switch in position is that o f a Republican moderate edging to the right in search o f support from the kind o f delegates who tend to dom i­ nate the party’ s presidential nomi­ nating process. Whatever the case, W ilson is not the only politician to have jumped sides on the issue. One o fh is Republican presidential rivals. Sen. Bob Dole o f Kansas, was for many years a strong supporter o f steering federal jobs, contracts and other opportunities to women and minorities. Now Dole, too, favors where the minority or female busi­ ness person might be deprived o f the real competitive learning skills nec­ essary to a “ real” function in the American economy. Many noted that in the actual “ real-time” business enterprises I got my university stu­ dents to form and operate (success­ ful), I insisted that they market solely on the basis o f ability. O f course, there was a game plan for the racist shutouts. This was especially apropos to marketing plans aimed at wealthy operators now ro m p in g in the “ Elysian Fields” o f properties once owned by hard w orking Portland blacks As I describe the scene in my social comment in “ Perspectives,” on page 2: “ Urban Renewal., when the grand removal saw the personal urban planning and wealth-building dreams o f black people go down the drain (and into the coffers and bot­ tom lines o f corporate giants that straddle the Coliseum area).” Not unlike the experience o f many whites in the Columbia Gorge. Pay atten­ tion! Bob Rau To Open Luncheon Events At Albertina ending the effort. But an examination o f W ilson’ s record on the subject offers insight into a Presidential candidate who, perhaps more than any other, has had hands-on experience with set-asides Bob Rau, rioted authority on antiques and for seven years co-host o f the OPB television show “ The Collectors” , w ill open a special fall series o f luncheon events at Albertina’ s at The Old Kerr Nursery and quotas. on Monday, September 18. Back in the early 1970s, few M r. Rau, him self a collector o f major cities moved more rapidly or fine antiques as well as a licensed resolutely on affirmative-action pro­ appraiser o f antiques, a w riter and a grams than San Diego, thanks mainly nationally-known consultant, w ill to M ayor Wilson. discuss treasures from the past and By 1979, c iv il rights advocates then w ill informally appraise small and political analysts were describ­ antiques guests may wish to bring. ing the c ity ’s programs as “ national­ The luncheon events are open to ly acclaimed.” One o f the mayor’ s the public and reservations open campaign fliers boasted: August 11. Tickets for the event, “ Pete has been a strong support­ including the discussion, appraisal er o f the affirmative-action efforts and Albertina’s 3-course gourmet supported by the m inority communi­ luncheon, are $20.00 each and must ty. He believes that America's m i­ be purchased in advance. For reser­ norities have been handicapped for » vations and ticket information, call years by inadequate housing, educa­ 231-0216. Because o f limited seat­ tion and jo b opportunities, and he ing, early reservations are advised. has dedicated his efforts to alleviat­ Mr. Rau’s talk and the luncheon w ill ing these problems.” be repeated Wednesday, September That flie r now provides stark 20. Albertina’ sis located at424N . E. contrast to W ilson’ s remarks o f this 22nd Ave., Portland. Feb. 25, when he broke unequivocal­ The luncheon series w ill contin­ ly w ith affirm ative action just as he ue Monday, October 2 with Maggie was about to announce that he would Zelgani o f Gourmet Works o f A rt run for president and just as polls and on October 16 w ith author and were beginn ing to show voters’ deep­ humorist Sue Kirby. The concluding ly concerned, even resentful, over luncheon ofthe series, Monday, Oc­ preference programs. tober 30, w ill feature Sandra Lee K o ch, “ The H at L a d y ” and chocolateer Dick Fuhr o f The Candy CRC Chairperson Praises Voting Rights Act U .S. C om m issio n on C iv il Rights Chairperson Mary Frances Berry called on all Americans to jo in her in commemorating the 30th anni­ versary o f the Voting Rights Act. “ This Commission is proud to have played a vital role in preparing the way for this watershed event in the history ofthe c iv il rights movement,” she said. The Commission’ s first public hearing, held in Montgomery, Ala., in December 1958, was on voting rights. Like the C ivil Rights Act o f 1964, the Voting Rights Act o f 1965 was built on a foundation o f facts and recommendations presented by the Commission in its early reports. These two acts are regarded as the cornerstone o f U.S. c iv il rights as they exist today. “ The creation o f the Commis­ sion by Congress in 1957, and enact­ ment o f the C iv il Rights and Voting Rights Acts,” Berry noted, “ were Federal government responses to America’ s growing revulsion over officially-sanctioned injustices suf­ fered by A frican Americans. Many o fth e challenges to such injustices. the sit-ins, the Freedom Rides, the c iv il rights marches, participated in by Americans across racial lines and captured by television camera crews fo r the evening news, galvanized public support for passage o f these laws.” The 1965 law, strengthened by amendments in 1982, has provided vital voting protections and greatly increased the participation o f A fr i­ can Americans and language m inor­ ities in the American political pro­ cess, Dr. Berry stated. Referring to the long history o f denying African Americans and oth­ er m inorities access to the ballot. B erry cautioned that the N ation should be vigilant against any weak­ ening o f the law and o f voting rights. The Commission on C iv il Rights Chairperson noted that proposals to change the law and its enforcement are numerous. The key to judging a proposed change is whether it w ill actually strengthen voting rights. She pointed out that minorities still face barriers to electing repre­ sentatives o f their choice at all levels. “ But i f we look at the history o f Po’ Folk Construction, Inc. V 1