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M \ r u i 27, 1996 • T hi P or h and O hsi rvi r
Editorial Articles. Do Not Necessarily
Reflect Or Represent The Views O f
The M ortlanh ffibseruer
- <
9
« »
A
[ onday, the National Rain-
> bow Coalition protested
th is y e a r’s A cadem y
Awards because only one of 1 66
nominees is African American-
Dianne Houston, for her live ac
tion short film “Tuesday Morning
Ride".
Ä
.
N A\ T I O N A L
9 1 9
more violent than we are.” Jackson
said, “ We bear this burden every day
as images are translated into action
and reaction. Because we continue to
live in a racially stratified society,
our art, film and television reflect the
shape o f this reality. Social inaccura
cies
continue to be expressed as real
We protested not just the resu lt-
I by P rof . M ckinley B urt
stration, makes my point about
ities through our cultural forms for
the one nom ination-but the process.
ncore I” has certainly
“ m odus
o p e ra n d i”
(o r
as
all the world to see.”
African Americans constitute 12 per
set up some interest-
Shakespeare would have put it, “ The
Guy Aoki o f the Media Actor
cent o f the population and 25 percent
Ing d ia lo g u e . K eep
play is the thing"). Though my sys
Network for Asian Americans said,
o f the movie goers. Whites comprise
those calls and faxes coming,
tem used the technology o f the times I
“ Unless we have people open-mind
96 percent o f those who vote on the
-- teletypes, punched tapes andf
or write If you will. The commu
ed enough to give Asian American
Academy Awards.
nity, the world, can always use
blacks in the segregated South. The
ASCII
(acronym for American Stan
are 3% and Native Americans are
actors the chance to play good roles,
Even Hollywood executives agree
dard Code for Information Inter-1
new ideas and, considering to
film ’s director, Tim Reid, said, “ It
I % , but our participation in front o f
we cannot be in the pool from which
that m inorities should play a larger
day’s human condition, we dare
change), the children, nevertheless,
was turned down by every major
the camera, behind the camera, and
people are nominated for Oscars.
role in the movie industry and that
not refuse that innovation which
were
able to exchange information
studio for being too soft’ and too
in the executive suites is minuscule.”
We’re tired o f always being seen as
minorities are under-represented in
may improve our lot.
human’,”
with
schools,
industry, and federal
*The Academy o f Motion Picture
foreigners or gangsters who are not a
front of and behind the camera. Peo
And where we
agencies
in|
A ctivists representing Asians,
Arts and Sciences-5,043 members,
positive part o f this country, so we
ple Magazine recently reported in a
talkofthe internet
Latinos and Native Americans in
A
m
e
ric
a
and
I
3.9% African American.
share the concern o f the Rainbow
cover story (March 18) that while
or W o rld -W id e
Hollywood w ill jo in forces with the
abroad
at
a
‘ The D irectors G u ild - 1 0,097
Coalition.”
African Americans are 12% o f the
Web” , let me make
Rainbow to draw attention to the
tra n s m is s io n
members. African Americans are
Sonny Skyhawk, founder o f Amer
population, they constitute only 3.9%
a correction in the
under-representation o f non-whites
rate
far faster
2.3% o f membership, Latinos 1.8%,
ican Indians in Film, said his people
ofthe Academy’s membership These
next-to-last para
than
anyone|
throughout the movie industry in
Asian Pacific Americans .9%, Na
have been in a “ celluloid time warp
executives simply say that our ap
graph o f last
Hollywood. The protest is also being
could
imm
edi
tive Americans are .2%. Non-white
since 1898,” always “ shown o ff with
proach to changing it is w rong-i.e.,
week’ s Perspec-
joined by the Los Angeles Urban
ately
read.
directors only received 4% o f all
feathers and a loincloth. Today we are
[ tive article. The final sentence was
we are going about it in the wrong
League.
And i f you were to ask the organ
directing jobs between 1992 and
doctors, lawyers, teachers, cab drivers
way, through direct action.
a
comment
on
how
they
would
be
ist
at that big downtown church on I
A community meeting on racism
1993.
and actors, but to Hollywood we are
“ There’sclearlyaproblem interms
"used” ; not sued (smiles).
in the motion picture industry w ill
S.W.
Twelfth (he was the 12yr. old
*The W riters G u ild . A fric a n
virtually nonexistent. The shame o f it
of the opportun¡ties Hoilywood gives
Now back to this idea o f “ what is
facing
the camera instead o f me in
was held during the weekend preced
Americansare2.6%. American Indi
all is that the Native American is the
minorities and in the way they’re
new and what is old” , the concept o f
ing the protest. It took place Satur
the
picture
o f that 1966 demonstra
ans in Film reports that general rep
only minority that was ever a majority.
depicted in movies,” Fox Filmed
invention and innovation or the old
day, March 23, I Oam to I pm at the
tion
in
my
Black inventors book),
resentation o f Native Americans in
We do this to improve the situation for
E n te rtainm e nt C hairm an Peter
adage, “ there is nothing new under
Holman Untied Methodist Church,
he
would
tell
you that my “ modus
television networks, motion picture
our future generations.
I the sun” (they didn’t mention the
Chemin said Sunday in the Los An
operandi” included what so many I
3320 West Adams Street in Los A n
studios, unions and all aspects o f
When a native American child
geles Times. “ When it comes to A f
students are not getting today. A |
moon, did they?” . A t the risk o f
geles. During the meeting, strategies
multi-media is .1%.
watches T V and wants to be the cow
rican American themes, we tend to
startinga
philosophical
argument,
I
thorough understanding o f the “ B i
were discussed for the day o f the
Jesse Jackson call the situation
boy instead ofthe Indian, something is
make a limited kind o f action film -
w ill venture that the only things o f
nary” system or “ language’, cod-1
protest and beyond. The Rev. Jesse
“ cultural distortion,” and said “ it is a
wrong with that picture.”
inner-city violent ones-that are less
importance
is
whether
the
concept
Jackson said, “ We w ill protest insti
ing, symbols and the underlying
form o f violence.” Jackson contin
Jackson concluded, “ Naturally, we
likely to receive Academy Award
is new to “ you” - or i f it is being
tutional racism that is manifest in
logic
o f it all. Most kids today can't
ued, " ’’The media portrays African
are proud o f the involvement o f
nominations.”
employed in “ a new or different
three ways in Hollywood: racial ex
write
or understand code.
Americans and other people o fco lo r
Quincy Jones and Whoopi Goldberg
In this regard many are critical o f
I way.” Our Latin teacher put it,
clusion, cultural distortion and deni
And
the interchange individual
in five deadly ways. We are por
in this year’s Academy Awards, as
the industry for the treatment received
“ modus operandi”
al o f access to production.”
students
had with engineers, scien
trayed as: ( I ) less intelligent than we
well as film director Dianne Hous
by Republic Picture’s“ ()nce Upon A
An excellent case in point (two
tists, w harf masters, et. al. both Io-1
Jackson said, “ African Americans
are; (2) less hard-working than we
ton. We support them on the inside,
I ime... When We Were Colored” —a
in fact) is a common thread to those
cally and in far o ff places spurred [
are 12% o f the population, Latinos
work; (3) less universal than we are;
even
as we protest on the outside the
highly acclaimed period drama about
communications
spurred
by
that
are 10%, Asian Pacific Americans
their interest in geography, com
(4) less patriotic than we are; and (5)
lacko fm oreo f us’ intheAcademv.”
"Encore" article. Several readers
merce and many other fields. Today
suggested, “ Get into the classrooms
my design incorporates both the
with your terminals and national/
newvisualsandgraphicsanda’new’ I
international networks, M ckinley,
parading for incorporating the ‘o ld ’
That’s hot stuff now, maybe they’
readouts into planned and instantly
w ill finally let you in after all these
edited texts (Patents and copyrights
years.” These fearful folks? I ’m
cost fortunes).
quite seriously considering starting
Y Y l/C I I
»
_
l
.1
A lso, those who remembers I
by B ernice P owell
J I ackson
around the country who also have
from people from all denominations* these workcamps. They w ill be pro
my own school and have a very
when I designed those computer I
his is an amazing coun
sent funds to the churches directly, or
and across the country.
interested potential clientele - black
viding food, lodging, local transpor
programs for the four and five year-1
try we live in. Just when
to the Greene County Emergency
There w ill be several ways for
and white.
tation
and
health
insurance
for
those
olds
at the Lake Oswego Montessori
I become so discouraged
Church Fund, which is collecting
volunteers to help. There w ill be
But another reader, very familiar
without it.
School,
should be happy to know
and disheartened and wonder if
donations for the churches burned in
three m o n th -lo n g re s id e n tia l
with my early operations points out
I here’ s an old hymn entitled
I
’
ve
brought
that technique up to I
ever African Americans will be
Greene County. Several o f the
workcamps during the months o f
that “ some o f these neophytes in the
“ Blest Be the T ie that B in ds.”
date
as
well
(and beyond). M y
allowed to feel at home here, I
churches were uninsured and their
June, July and August. Volunteers
Portland School District who are
We are bound by a tie o f G o d ’ s
hear a story of grace. Last month,
"M
ath
2000”
program
is not only
losses were total.
must get themselves to and from the
hoopin' and h ollerin’ about the
love fo r us and fo r ju s tic e . The
for
Montessori
Schools
but headf
when I wrote about the 2 3 Afri
One group which responded to the
Birmingham airport and be present
Internet and World Wide Web, and
people in Alabam a, Tennessee,
Start-Type
institutions
as well.
can American churches in the
needs o f the people in the Alabama
for the whole month. They w ill be
the lack o f funds for implementing
M ississipp i and Louisiana whose
Thanks in great part to Dr. Stanley I
South being burned, was one of
churches was the Washington Quak
housed at the Federation for South
Jacobs at OHSC (in v e n to r o f l
these system, were not even bom
churches have been burned must
th o s e down m o m en ts. This
er Workcamps, a group o f Quakers
ern cooperatives Center in Eppes.
be
fe
eling
a
sense
o
f
that
tie
that
yet
when
you
were
doing
the
exact
DMSO) who read o f my computer f
month, as I begin to hear the
in the Washington, D C. area, who
There w ill also be week-end
binds as we help them reb uild
same thing with seventh and eighth
innovations in the Portland Orego-1
responses, is a moment of hope.
organize and carry out church build
workcamps. Volunteers must get
th e ir churches. M aybe there is
graders thirty years ago (October
This month Jet Magazine printed
nian 25 years ago and directed me |
ing projects by volunteers. They im
themselves to and from the work site
1966).”
hope
yet.
a picture o f Green Bay Packers play
to
the Lake Oswego Montessori i
mediately contacted Spiver Gordon,
and may also attend services at both
The reader, who was the only
F or workcamp applications or
er Reggie White, who is an Associate
School
where his wife was the d i
C ity Councilmember from Eutaw,
black and white churches nearby.
details or to make a contribution to
black child in The Dalles School
PastoroflnnerC ity Church in Knox
rector.
He
was recently featured in
A I, who was designated as the church
In addition, clergy and respected
the workcamps, write Washington
District at the time o f my demon
ville , TN , receiving a check for
a
major
article.
es contact, and offered their servic
religious leaders are being invited to
Quaker Workcamps, H arold Con
$ 142,261.42. That check was the gift
es.
come to serve as spiritual guides to
fer,
Executive Director, 1225 Gera
o f the people o f Wisconsin, who
The Alabama churches have now
the workcampers and the local com
nium
St., N.W., Washington, D C .
wanted to show their support for him
designated the Washington Quaker
munity. Contractors, builders and
20012,
Fax (202) 723-5376. Or you
and his church. W hite’s church not
Workcamps as the group responsi
trained workcamp leaders are also
(USPS 959-680)
can
send
contributions directly to
only had been firebombed, but was
ble for recruiting and organizing vol
needed. There are applications forms
OREGON’S
OLDEST
AFRICAN
AMERICAN PUBLICATION
the
Greene
C
ounty
Em
ergency
also painted with racial slurs and
unteers who wish to go to A labama to
for each group.
Established
in 1970
(
hurch
Fund,
The
Rev
Levi
Pickens,
later looted.
help rebuild the three churches in
It w ill cost the Washington Quak
Treasurer,
Rt
2,
Box
94,
Eutaw
At
Undoubtedly, there are people
Joyce Washington—Publisher
Boligee. They are expecting help
er Workcamps over $41,000 to run
35462.
The PORTLAND OBSERVER is located at
ubj W
C O A L IT IO N
Oscar! Lights, Camera,
[Affirm ative] Action
I/7 C /' T
c / / r C T
|What To do For An Encorel
il: Back To The Future
jJT
Civil Rights Journal
Response To The Church Burnings
(T
^ o rtla n ù (Obswucr
v a n ta g e . P o in t
Mobilizing Black America To Lead A General Strike
by
R on D aniels
(T ^
l l
he wall of racial and eco-
nomic oppression in the
U n ite d S ta te s m u s t
come tum bling down, but they
will not crumble without a con
certed effort to smash them by
black people and the oppressed
In this nation. There are a variety
of tactics which can be utilized
to eradicate racism and econom
ic exploitation in this country.
However, there is no more power
ful action th a t Black people and
the oppressed could initiate than
a general strike.
As the public sector workers in
France recently demonstrated, a gen
eral strike can virtually bring and
entire nation to a standstill. The
French workers took to the streets
and withheld their labor to protest
proposed cut backs in the elaborate
network o f social welfare benefits
which insure a minimum standard o f
livin g a n d q u a lity o flife fo ra ll French
ty net, into believing that the crisis in
citizens irrespective o f a person’s
American society is a result o fth e
income or class standing in French
“ burden” ofthe welfare system. There
society. Universal health care, gen
is also the not so subtle suggestion
erous paid pregnancy leave, day care,
that much o f this burden is due to the
free public education from pre-school
large number o f Black people and
through college, subsidized meals
people o f color who are recipients o f
for students from daycare to high
various forms o f public assistance.
school, mandatory five weeks vaca
Using this race card to whip up pub
tion in most jobs and nine weeks in
lic support for what is essentially and
h ig h ly stressful occupations are
anti-people o f color, anti-poor and
among the benefits which comprise
anti-working class agenda, the radi
the safety net in France. It was to
cal right is hell bent on drastically
protect this kind o f safety net, flow
cutting back on the meager benefits
ing from a culture o f rights and con
o f the safety net in the U.S.
cept o f equality which goes back to
Since the Reagan years the
the French Revolution, that French
scheme has been to rob poor and
workers were prepared to shut the
w o rk in g people to enhance the
entire nation down.
fortunes o f the rich and the su
The French system o f social wel
p e r-ric h ; to reduce the w o rk in g
fare benefits is fare more extensive
class to subservient wage slaves
than the crumbs meted out through
at the m ercy o ftra n s n a tio n a l c o r
the so called safety hoodwinked large
porations in the name o fth e “ free
numbers o f Americans, including
m arket and “ g lo b a l c o m p e ti
some o f the beneficiaries o f the safe-
tio n .” As a consequence, the rich
4747 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Portland, Oregon 97211
503-288-0033 * Fax 503-288-0015
Deadline fo r all submitted materials:
Articles:Friday, 5 :0 0 p m
are g ettin g rich er and more se
cure w h ile the poor are getting
poorer and less secure. The w alls
o f racial and econom ic oppres
sion are higher and stronger than
ever before.
The Question is when w ill Black
people, people o f color, poor and
working people, the working class,
bring this madness to an end? Unfor
tunately, organized labor surrendered
one o f its most potent weapons when
the right to use a general strike was
abandoned in favor o f limited strike
actions within particular skills, crafts
or work arenas. Indeed, i f there was
ever a time that a general strike was
in order it was when Reagan fired the
A ir Traffic Controllers and broke
PATCO as a union. This act sig
nailed a conscious effort by the ru
ing elite to break the back o f unio
across the board, and yet labor »
virtually impotent in the face o f
provocation
better ffo fffte (SJditvr
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