P age A4
___ _______________________________________________________J une 19, 1996 • T he P ortland O bserver
Racism: America’s Continuing Dilemma
A m erica’s greatest challenge in
the tw enty-firs, century is the d iv i­
sion o f race--w hether whites, A fri­
can-A m ericans and other racial and
ethnic m inorities can live together on
the basis o f fairness and equality.
D espite the victories o f the Civil
R ights M ovem ent o f the 1960s and
legislative reform s, racial discrim i­
nation and socioeconom ic inequal­
ity continues to com prom ise and
underm l ne ef forts for A frican - A ineri -
can em pow erm ent.
why does the racial impasse still
exist in A m erica? Part of the answ er
requires an exam ination o f white
A m erican attitu d es and opinions
about black people.
In a dem ocracy, political power
theoretically is based on the prin­
ciples o f popular participation, m a­
jo rity rule and respect for minority
rights. By this standard, A frican-
A m ericans were denied dem ocratic
rights throughout m ost of their his­
tory in this country. H istorically,
w hite m ainstream A m erica has no,
attem pted to achieve a reconciliation
betw een the reality o f hum an diver­
sity-based in divergent racial and
ethnic identities, languages,cultures,
religions and other factors-and the
basic principles o f political dem oc­
racy.
For a brief but pow erful moment
in US history, the m eaning o f “rac­
ism ” was generally understood by
the m ajority o f all A m ericans, black
and white. During the Civil Rights
M ovem ent, racial inequality was
sharply represented by the harsh re­
ality o f Jim Crow segregation in the
South and ghettoization in the North
It was this general recognition that
A m erican society w as essentially
unfair and undem ocratic to black
people that a range o f civil rights
legislation and dem ocratic reform s
was passed in the 1960s.
By the 1980s and 1990s, white
public attitudes and opinions about
blacks had greatly changed The
redefinition o f race was the conse­
quence of many divergent economic,
social and political forces; the growing
income stratification and the polariza­
tion of social classes, with millions of
while middle income families experi­
encing a decline in their standard of
living; the massive deindustrialization
and loss o f jobs in major cities with
large minority populations, and the
rise o f suburbs and “planned com m u­
nities" the ideological and political
victories of conservatism, from the
Reagan Revolution of the 1980s to the
"Contract With Am erica” in the 1990s
; and the political reaction against af­
Washington DC Local Organizing
Committee To Publish New Magazine
A contingent of the Local O rga­
nizing C om m ittee has collaborated
to launch "B lack U nity” M agazine,
the official publication o f the M illion
M an M arch W ashington, DC Local
O rganizing Com m ittee. In February
1996, only 3,000 copies o f the m aga­
zine w ere produced for a limited
edition prem iere issue. Editors of
this bi-m onthly m agazine will now
increase copy production to at least
6,000 for the com ing May edition
w hich will be available to the public
in early June.
“ Response to the publication has
been trem endous. This m agazine a l­
low s the D C/LO C to provide and
im portant com m unity wide service,
as well as a National C om m unication
N etw ork for the more than 350 plus
L O C ’s across the country. “Black
U nity ” w orks as a tool to assist LOCs
across the country in a process o f
pro g ressiv e action and resolution
based on our first hand know ledge,
special focus, and consistent report­
ing o f issues andevents from the EM?/
L O C ’s unique national grassroots
perspective. In addition, we are find­
ing that the w holesale/distribution
relationships being established with
the LO Cs for the publication is of
mutual benefit not only to the LOC
netw ork but also potentially for an y ­
one attem pting to com m unicate with
us,” stated Raye M uham m ed DC
LO C C o-C hair and E ditor for “Black
U nity.”
The DC Local O rganizing C o m ­
m ittee (LO C) is the bedrock LOC
am ong all other established across
the co u n try in o rd er to advance
grassroots m obilization for the his­
toric O ctober 16, 1995 M illion Man
M arch: N ational Holy Day o f A tone­
m ent, R econciliation, and R esponsi­
bility. The stated m ission of the DC/
LO C is to achieve, individually and
incapable o f responsibly raising chil­
dren. Faith o f our Fathers: African-
A m erican M en Reflect on Father­
hood, by A ndre C. W illis, eloquently
dism antles these pow erful stereo­
types, by bringing together tw elve
prom inent A frican-A m erican writ­
ers and thinkers, fathers and sons, to
discuss various issues that surround
this critical relationship, including:
John E dgar W idem an, A nthony E.
Cook, Cornel W est, M artin Kilson,
M ichael G Hanchard, H enry Louis
G ates, Jr., Playthell B enjam in, Rob­
ert G. O ’ M eally, Robin D. G. Kelley,
D e lfe a y o M rs a lis , C h a r le s T o
O gletree, Jr., Thaddeus G oodavage.
A n d re C. W illis , a re se a rc h
a s s o c ia te at th e W E B . D u b o is
In s titu te fo r A fric a n -A m e ric a n
R e se a rc h at H a rv a rd an d a f re ­
q u e n t le c tu r e r at c o lle g e s and
co llectiv ely , m oral and spotitual
renweal w hile significantly im prov­
ing and em pow ering the A frican-
American com m unity and other com ­
m unities of color... To foster eco ­
nomic, political and social growth;
health, education and envirom ental
improvem ent; freedom , justice, and
equality, youth and com m unity em ­
powerment, and international unity
u tilizing the sev en p rice ip le s o f
N guzo Saba. For additional infor­
mation call Public Relations C o n ­
sultant and "B lack U nity” M agazine
A sso ciate E d ito r, A n g ela M aria
M uham m ad at (202) 726-5 111.
u n iv e rs itie s , c e le b ra te s th e A fr i­
c a n -A m e ric a n m a le e x p e rie n c e in
F aith o f O u r F a th e rs w h ich w ill
be p u b lis h e d by D u tto n B o o k s in
tim e fo r F a th e r ’s D ay . A son an d
fa th e r h im s e lf W illis h a s d is c o v ­
e re d th e m o st im p o rta n t key to
fa th e rin g “ is h o w the fa ith o f o u r
fa th e rs -fa ith in th e m s e lv e s , faith
in the w o rld - h as in s p ire d ho w
we w ant to liv e an d w an t to lo v e .”
you are cordially invited to our
your hosts:
Gather friends and join a sum m er
sports league. The V ancouver Parks
and Recreation Department offers
children these summ er leagues.
Girls and boys ages 4 to 7 inter­
ested in T-ball can register thrugh
June 28. The seven week season be­
gins Tuesday, July 9, at M emory
Field, east o f Fort V ancouver Re­
gional Library. Games are Tuesday
or Thursday at 6 p.m. or Saturdays at
9 a.m. cost is $22 or $19 for city
residents.
Parks & Recreation
Commission Vacancy
T he city o f V an c o u v e r is s e e k ­
ing a p p lic a n ts to fill to w v a c a n ­
c ie s on the P a rk s & R e c re a tio n
C o m m is s io n . T h e te r m s a r e
th ree y ea rs ind d u ra tio n M e m ­
b e rs may se rv e a m a x im u m o f
th ree term s.
T he P ark s & R e c re a tio n C o m ­
m issio n is a te n -m e m b e r c i t i ­
zens g ro u p T h ey are a p p o in te d
by city c o u n c il to a d v is e s ta f f
an d city c o u n c il to a d v is e s ta f f
and city c o u n c il on n e e d s, p la n s
an d p ro g ra m s n e c e s sa ry fo r an
a d e q u a te sy ste m o f p a rk s, o p en
s p a c e , p la y g ro u n d s , f a c ilitie s
and re c re a tio n s e rv ic e s fo r th e
c itiz e n s o f V a n c o u v e r.
F o r a p p lic a tio n s or fu rth e r in ­
fo rm a tio n c o n ta c t m a rie D ay in
th e M a y o r's o ffic e at C ity IH all,
2 1 0 E 13th . PO Box 1 995, V a n ­
c o u v e r, W a 9 8 6 6 8 o r c a ll 6 9 6 -
821 I ( F A X 6 9 6 -8 0 4 9 ) A p p li­
c a tio n s m u s, be su b m itte d by
M o n d a y Ju ly 15.
(Ebe ^Jorflatth O^bseruer
During the non-snow off season the U.S. Women's Alpine Ski Team
members used the "Ski Team" diet to lose 20 pounds in two weeks. That's
right - 20 pounds in 14 days! The basis of the diet is chemical food
action and was devised by a famous Colorado physician especially for
the U.S. Ski Team. Normal energy is maintained (very important!) while
reducing. You keep -full" - no starvation - because the diet is designed
that way. It's a diet that is easy to follow whether you work, travel or stay
at home. (For men, tool)
This is, honestly, a fantastically successful diet. If it weren't, the U.S.
Women's Alpine Ski Team wouldn't be permitted to use it! Right? So,
give yourself the same break the U.S. Ski Team gets. Lose weight the
scientific, proven way. Even if you've tried all the other diets, you owe it to
yourself to try the U.S. Women's Alpine Ski Team Diet. That is, if you
really do want to lose 20 pounds in two weeks. Order today1 Tear this out
as a reminder.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defa­
mation
(GLAAd)
‘lib would [ove to meet you,
and ted you a d about CjLASVD.
“
Phase join usfor refreshments',
date: Thursday, July 25
time: 4 - 6 p.m.
pbace ‘Ban f o f California Tower
Send only $8.95 ($9.60 in Calif.)-add .50 cents RUSH service to:
American Institute, 7343 El Camino Real, Suite 206, Atascadero, CA
93422. Don’t order unless you expect to lose 20 pounds in two weeks!
Because that’s what the Ski Team Diet will do
© 1995
707S W Washington Street
4 th ‘/d o r, Oregon ‘Boom
O ur sophisticated energy m anagem ent program s
fo r local businesses often begin with a bigb l eve, I
conference with executive m anagem ent.
A t P acific P ower , our programs to
save energy for local businesses are state-of-
the-art. They can deliver
not only technical
but innovative ways to
Portland's “Kids on the M ove," will
conduct the clinic.
The clinic is sponsored by the
V ancouver Parks and Recreation
Department, N.W. W heelchair Ath­
letic Association, “ Kidson the Move"
and Oregon Spokes and Strokes.
For more information call Connie
Irwin at 696-8218.
City parks program tapped
T h e c i t y ’s K ids F irs t! p r o ­
g ram w on a $ 5 0 0 0 g ra n t to fu n d
th e ir a f te r - s c h o o l s n a c k p r o ­
g ram . An a d d itio n a l $ 5 0 0 w ill
fu n d th e s to r y te lle r p r o g ra m
w ith M a u re e n P e d o n e .
Call (503) 288-0033 To Advertise In
guidance and direction,
Play or Coach
Wheelchair Tennis
A wheelchair tennis clinic is se,
Saturday June 22, from I p.m. to 4
p.m. at the Vancouver Tennis Center,
5530 E 18th St.
Thecity-sponsoredclinic will fea­
ture a wheelchair tennis exhibition.
Coordinations will help get V ancou­
ver teams organized for wheelchair
sports. Debbie Brochers, president o f
together. M ainstream has a num ber
o f safe locations from w hich to o f­
fer art activities, m u sic, d ram a,
gam es, reading and sharing ex p e ri­
en ces for one large segm ent o f the
4 5 2 c h ild re n in v o lv e d in th is
su m m er’s prevention program .
Adults who can offer reading-out
loud opportunities, coaching skills,
com puter literacy, or lessons in ecol­
ogy to Portland’s youngsters are en ­
couraged to call M ainstream at 234-
3400, M onday through Friday. V ol­
unteers will be welcom ed a, either
one o f the 2 Saturday O rientation
Sessions, the first will be held at the
M ainstream main office at 45th and
Belm ont on Saturday, June 15 9am
to 12n. The second, to be held at the
same hours, will be held on June29th.
Please call 234-3400 to register for
either of the orientation times.
Fam ous U.S. W om en's A lp in e Ski Team D iet
Donna Red Wing, Thom Kincheloe & Kim Felipe
of
Girls aand boys ages 6 to 14 inter­
ested in roller hockey can register
through June 24.
The eight-week season Sunday,
June 30, at 11:30 a.m. at Marshall
Center, 1009 E. M cLoughlin Blvd.
Must have own equipment. Cost is
$49 or $45 for City residents.
Students grades 9 to 12, starting
Septem ber 1996 shcool year, can
register for teen basketball June I Oto
July 2. T he seven-week season be­
gins Saturday
V olunteers to help 452 schoolage
children play this sum m er are the
subject o f a county w ide search by
M ainstream ’ s D rug Prevention Pro­
gram. The focus o f M ain stream ’s
Prevention Program is to offer a
safe, skill-building environm ent for
children as sum m er passes. A dults
and high school students are being
sought to share their skills in C hess,
D ra m a , A th le tic s , C o m p u te r
G am es, G ardening, Reading, B as­
k e tb a ll a n d B ird w a tc h in g
M a in s tre a m ’s D rug P re v en tio n
Team is gearing up to provide a rich
variety o f needs activities and re­
sources for these kids in need o f a
safe place to play.
E xpanding Prevention activities
to r sum m er m onths requires neigh­
bors, friends, high school students,
and com m unity m em bers to com e
LOSE 20 POUNDS
IN TWO WEEKS!
Open fiouse
Summer Youth
Leagues Start Up
require an honest and critical dialogue,
between blacks and whites. The issue
is not one of "good intentions,” but
rather the reallocation of resources,
access to institutional support and in­
vestment capital, and the expansion of
the social safety net to promote indi­
vidual and group productivity and i n i ­
tiative. Racism w on’t end by itself
until blacks and other people o f color
have expanded access to the power
and resources o f the larger society. If
whites can learn to listen to that reality,
we might finally begin to take the
necessary steps to uprix>t racial dis­
crimination and class inequality, once
and for all.
Volunteers Needed to Plaij
Andre C. Willis Illuminates African-American Fathers
There is no greater influence in a
so n ’s life that his relationship with
his father; nor is there a greater joy
than being a parent. U nfortunately,
too often in popular consciousness
negative stereotypes about A frican-
A m erican fathers persist as conven­
tional w isdom; the com plexity o f the
father-son bond is glossed over or
ignored - or more point, too many
people assum e that black men are
firmative action, m ajority-minority
legislative district minority economic
set-asides, and other liberal reforms.
All of these factors, as well as others,
helped tocreate a general public belief
among mi 11 ions o f w hi tes that any debt
they may have felt for the enslave­
ment, segregation or oppression of
black Americans, had been fully paid.
Many whites became convinced that
civil rights and affirmative action were
attempts by blacks and other racial
minorities to win "special privileges."
"W hiteness” once again began to de­
fine the limitation of American de­
mocracy.
Transcending the racial divide will
pay for energy efficiency upgrades that might
be required.
B ut, valuable as that may be,
our commitment to energy efficiency starts
and ends with people. Sure, we’ll bring in the
experts if need be. But in the end it’s a local
partnership with someone you know at the
local power company.
Someone you can count on.
# RACIFIC POWER
B o th
g ra n ts
are
f ro m
S o r o p ti m is t I n te r n a t io n a l o f
V a n c o u v e r W o m e n ’s C lu b . K ids
F irs t! p ro g ra m is p a rt o f the
V a n c o u v e r P a rk s an d R e c r e ­
a tio n D e p a rtm e n t.
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