J uly 30, 1997 • T he P ortland O bserver
P age A2
Editorial Articles Do Not Necessarily
Reflect Or Represent The Views Of
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p
(E lje ¡ P o r t l a n d ( J D b s m w r
he most favorable re
sponse to the idea of
"Junior Science Clubs"
is most appreciated. There is
nothing like a concept whose
time has come (again) and there
is no reason why such useful and
educational projects should be
the province of only certain in
come and social groups: worked
well 60 years ago!
Also appreciated are public ac
knowledgments of one'scontributions
and successful endeavors to bring
about change. Ils not at all about a
personal clement of praise or appro
bation, but serves as a mechanism that
could generate even more support from
industry or the public at large.
I have reference to the very
thoughtful birthday greeting pub
lished in a May edition of The Port
land O bserver by Mr. Herm an
Grimes. President. Coast Industries.
Thank you very much for this gra
cious acknowledgment by a former
student: “..congratulations on m ak
ng significant contrioutions
ing
contributions to m
the e
S ubscriptions
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Publishers, Inc, New York, NY, and The West Coast Black Publishers
Association • Serving Portland and Vancouver.
L eague ____________ ______
was on the path to be-
come an educator, but
the Civil Rights move-
snt and affirmative action
opened doors to opportunities I
hadn't ever known existed. That
Is when I decided to go into
business.”
the p ro d u ctio n o f m ate rial go o d s,
su ch as sh o w s, c o sm e tic prod u cts,
and food. T h e y o versee b illio n s o f
ucts c o m p a n y , te lls B la c k E n te r
p rise m a g a z in e in its cu rren t is s u e 's
e a rly and m id d le d e ca d e s o f th is ce n
tury B la c k A m e ric a c h a lle n g e d W hite
lo o k at 2 6 to p flig h t b la c k b u sin e ss
A m e r ic a w ith a p ro p h e c y that, in the
w o rd s o f a S a m C o o k hit so n g , A
A fr ic a n A m e rica n s w h ich has grow n
up d u r in g and after the c iv il rig h ts
years
A s a gro u p and as in d iv id u a ls ,
th e y ’ v e risen h ig h e r in the ra n k s o f
A m e r ic a n b u sin e ss then an y A f r i-
lives.
Some had only known lives tilled
with violence Irom their childhood;
others had experienced it only- as
adults. One woman recalled her ex
perience as a child of riding in the
ambulance with her battered mother,
only to be ignored in the waiting
room by all and not knowing if her
mother would live or die. Another
told of thinking that domestic vio
lence was a part of marriage - that
was what she had grown up with and
what she had come to expect as an
adult. All of these women had been
convicted of murdering their spouses
when they could no longer take the
abuse them selves or when they
can A m e ric a n s e v e r before.
T h e y run th eir ow n b u sin e sse s, or
w ie ld s ig n ific a n t a u th o rity in m u lti-
m illio n -d o lla rc o m p a n ie s. T h e y gu id e
c h ie f o p e ra tin g o ffic e r o f C a rso n ,
In c ., the h a ir and fa c ia l care p ro d
w om en.
H e r d is c o v e ry o f her aptitude for
b u sin e ss and her s u cc e ss at it a re n ’ t
u n u su al am o n g the ge n e ratio n o f
e
c
/
/
r t '
...........................................
lives o f m any African A m ericans."
One needs that kind of attribution in
order to ‘ keep-on- keepin' - on ' I need
a lot more birthdays to implement
these
youth
projects.
But. let me say
this as w ell.
Thanks to execu-
liveslikeyou. Mr
Grimes, and the
industries you manage, those of us
who are about motivating minorities
and women into the 21st century of
technology are receiving the support
we need to do our job. And in par
ticular let me convey the community ' s
congratulation to Coast Industries
for the important economic asset it
has been to us over the decades - and
beyond that, the role model par ex
cellence; again, thank you! Speak
ing further on the role of industry, it
was interesting that one of the white
parents whose electronic plant em
ployer is, as I am, a member of the
“Associated Oregon Industries,
had to reassure a black parent in the
...
________ _________ „ m ..n
s
th o u g thought,
h t, how
youth science club sponsors group,
“No, Mr. Burt is not in the industry
organization because he wants to
be a big shot ’ or because he thinks
th a t big y e a rly
m em bership fe e is
a badge o f pres
BY
tige. "(W hites have
P rofessor
a lso e x p re sse d
M ckini . ey
this).
B urt
____
T he e n g in e e r
went on to explain that not only did I
gain entrance into a proactive com
munications network involving sci
entists, engineers and technicians at
the cutting-edge of space-age tech
nology, but received generous offers
of time, materials and executive
loan' to aid the youth science projects.
And as for those 'big membership
dues’ I'm sure he made that back at
the first seminar he did at the Green
wood Inn - or for subsequent Lion's
Club luncheon presentations on
‘Black In ven to rs' ...all probably
spent on y o u r kids. ”
Sometimes it gets exasperating out
here but that goes with the game. I
watched their children being abused
I rem em ber driving that same
evening to my m other's in W ashing
ton. D C. through a hurricane which
threatened the east coast and saying
the words, with a new understanding,
there but for the grace of God. go I.
None of us chooses the family we are
born into and some of us are born
into families where domestic vio
lence is a part of life.
Domestic violence is a term which
is too often unspoken in the African
American community. That may be
true in other communities of color as
well, but I now it is true in my own.
To talk about it. some believe, only
widens the gap between black men
and black women. To talk about it.
some believe, is airing our dirty laun
dry in public and somehow weakens
our com m unity's unity. Totalk about
it, some believe, means telling of the
horrors done by fathers, brothers,
uncles and husbands and destroys
families.
But the reality is that not talking
about domestic violence in our com
munity does all those negative things
as well. Not talking about domestic
violence ensures that the gap be
many
times times
have have
I ex I ex
how many
plained that with the very first na
tional Science Foundation award
winning computer demonstration in
the Dalles Oregon, I was calling on
the engineers and technicians in my
'Toastmasters C lub' (1966). And
that there was the same type of inter
action and support tor my Belm ont
St. operation (1969,'70).
It was there that 1 brought in the
local manager of the Associated Press
news bureau to advise me on updat
ing my earlier concept where / put
The Dalles, Oregon classroom on
line with the a lu m in u m plant,
Bonneville Power, the Bureau o f
Standards, Tektronix, Torrance
California, Adrian, M ichigan roll
ing mills and bauxite facilities in
the West Indies. And today, where
my new designs incorporate even
more advanced communications con
cept. I have access to the profession
als who work with Satellites, Global
Positioning and the like Well, it looks
like ’mathematics will have tocome
next week. Sorry about that.
_ . ______ u,„>n
was heeun
two
years two
ago years
by the
Zi by the Zion *
was
begun
ago
tween men and women widens even
Hill Missionary Baptist Church in
more as women are forced to believe
Rochester, NY. In Chicago a Do
that they are less valuable than our
mestic V iolence A dvocacy/Care
men. Not talking about domestic vio
Ministry trains church leaders on
lence undermines our community s
domestic
violence and I rinity United
unity even more because a superfi
Church ot Christ has a special minis
cial and Hawed unity is no unity at
try for battered women and children.
all. Not talking about domestic vio
Several years ago in Washington,
lence guarantees the destruction of a
D C. Rev. Imagine Stewart began the
family, not just for one generation,
House of imagine to shelter and min
but for generations to come.
ister to battered and homeless women
Unfortunately, the black church
and children.
too often has also participated in the
We must end the silence about the
silence around domestic violence.
sin
and the crime of domestic vio
Too often the black church has even
lence
in the African American com
condoned such behavior, counseling
munity
We must reach out to help
women to stay in abusive relation
those
women
and those men who are
ships. However, a new national
caught
up
in
this
horrible and terrify
project. The Black Church and do
ing
cycle
of
violence.
We cannot
mestic Violence Task force, located
afford
for
future
generations
to be
in Seattle, is ending the silence and
torn
apart
because
we
have
tolerated
beginning the dialogue and action.
The African American Initiative of
Men Stopping Violence, based in
Atlanta, works with African Ameri
can men who have been barterers.
Locally. black churches, mosques
and community organizations are
taking action. For instance, the Open
Arms Ministry, a holistic approach
to dealing with domestic violence,
To Be Equal: Promise and Change
d o lla rs in in ve stm en ts.
T h e y are s u cc e ss sto rie s-b e cau se ,
as they th e m se lve s re c o g n ize , in the
S o , Jo y c e R o c h e , p resid en t and
B ernice P owell J ackson
t must have been 16 or
17 years ago, but I re
member it like it was last
month. I was sitting in a women's
prison in New York State, listen
ing to women testify to the
Governor’s Commission on Do
mestic Violence. The women, all
sentenced to long prison terms
of 15 years to life, told their
stories and how domestic vio
lence had been a part of their
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Civil Rights Journal: unmasking the violence
Contributing Writers:
Professor McKinley Burt.
Lee Perlman,
Neil Heilpern
by H ugh B. P rice ,
P resident of the N ational U r
s
J
mail to:
Charles Washington
Publisher & Editor
r
Another Sojourn Into Science: Next Generation
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® lje P o r t la n d
e
ch a n g e is g o n n a com e.
B la c k e n te rp rise m a g a z in e has
been c h r o n ic lin g som e o f the ben
e fits o f that c h a n g e fo r m ore than a
quarter cen tu ry.
A n d those b e n efits are a lso on
d is p la y th is m onth in Fo rtu n e m a g a
zin e . Y o u ’ ll be able to spot it e a s ily
on the n e w sstan d It ’ s the one w ith
the s tr ik in g ga tefo ld co ve r o f A f r i
c a n -A m e ric a n entrepreneurs behind
It ’ s our re sp o n sib ility to ensure
that in the future the tra ils they and
the w o rd s: “T h e N e w B la c k Pow er
the generation o f b la c k entrepreneurs
w ho cam e before them have b lazed is
fille d w ith in d iv id u a ls as su p re m e ly
W h at is that p ow er?
11 ’ s the freedom to ac hie ve for one s
self, and contribute to im p ro vin g the
so cie ty, to the best o f one’ s ability,
unencum bered by racist law s or c u s
tom s w h ich have the force o f law.
In other w o rd s, the new b la ck
p o w er is ju s t the o ld striv in g for
achievem ent, su ccess, independence,
fin a n c ia l s e c u rity -a n d so m e th in g
m ore in tan gib le that these things pro
duce: the sense o f b e in g a fu ll-fled ged
p a rticip a n t in A m e ric a n society.
W h at m akes-the achievem ents o f
th is generation o f A fr ic a n A m e rica n
entrepreneurs so im portant is that
they sh o w that tlte p ath w ays into the
centers o f p ow er (and w ealth) in
A m e ric a n b u sin e ss are s ig n ific a n tly
m ore open than they used to be.
w e ll-p re p are d as they were.
T h a t ’ s w h y the U rb an L e a g u e
m ovem ent has taken as its them e for
preneurs ... W e m ust no lo n ge r be
satisfied w a tch in g in aw e, from a
distance as others p lay the gam e...”
R o b in so n and h is co lle a g u e s led
our N atio n al E c o n o m ic D evelopm ent
S u m m it held in C le v e la n d in late
it.
(For more information, write the
Black Church and Domestic Vio
lence Task Force. Center for the Pre
vention of Sexual and Domestic Vio
lence, 936 N. 34th St., Suite 200,
Seattle, WA 98103 or call them at
(206) 634-1903 or e-mall them at
cpsdv @cpsdv.seanet com )
sense o f what the w o rld o f business
and governm ent requires by intro
du cin g them to men and w om en w ho
can serve as mentors. N o t in cid e n
tally, B E E P has also helped m ore
than 120 com panies and governm ent
agencies recruit a m ore diverse and
m ore talented w orkforce.
T h e se and other concerted e f
forts m ust continu e to be m ade, fo r
it’ s c le a r that, even as w e celebrate
M a y . A tten d ed b y o ffic ia ls o f lo c a l,
re g io n a l, national and fortune 500
current su cce sses, A fr ic a n A m e r i
co m p a n ie s, its purpose w as to in
form m ore m in o ritie s about fra n ch is
can s have a ve ry lo n g c lim b to e c o
n o m ic s e lf-s u ffic ie n c y ahead o f
in g s u p p lie r and d istrib u to r opportu-
n ities-and to sh o w A m e rica n b u si
ness there’ s a w h o le p oo l o f talent
them. N o r sh o u ld we pretend that
subtle and overt d isc rim in a tio n has
disappeared from any o f the le v e ls
to contribute to its e co n o m ic vita lity .
A s M y ro n F . R o b in so n , the p re si
they need to tap into.
In late June, our B la c k E xe cu tive
E xch a n g e Pro gram held its 28th an
nual conference in Atlanta. Supported
by corporate and in d ivid u al contribu
dent o f the U rb an L e a g u e o f G reater
C le v e la n d sa y s, “ ou r jo b for the
tw e n ty-first century is to strengthen
o u r e co n o m ic base through the c re
tions, this effort recruits business e x
ecutives and governm ent o fficia ls to
teach as V is itin g Professors at H isto ri
c a lly B la c k C o lle g e s and U niversities.
o f the A m e ric a n w o rkp la ce .
B u t w e sh o u ld take heart. F o r,
w hat the B la c k E n te rp rise and F o r
tune M a g a zin e s a rticle s underscore
is that the c lim b is b e in g m ade w ith
great fe rvo r b y these entrepreneurs
and m an y m ore lik e them . T h e ir
su cce sses enable us to c a rry into the
future that w o n d erfu l p ro p h e cy o f
ation o f b u sin e ss ow ners and entre-
Its objective is to give students a keener
the past: a ch an g e is go n n a com e.
this year, and for o u r annual c o n fe r
ence, w h ic h b e gin s A u g u s t 3, “ E c o
n o m ic Pow er: T h e next C i v i l R ig h ts
F ro n tie r.”
W e w ant to underscore as stro n g ly
as p o ssib le that o n e ’ s a b ility to fu lly
participate in the s o cie ty has becom e
c ru c ia lly dependent on o n e ’ s a b ility
T h i s W a y fo r B la c k E m p o w e r m e n t
What is the Solution to Political Corruption? The American People
by
D r . L enora F ui . ani
41
or the last several
weeks, the U.S. Senate
has been conducting
hearings into the financing of the
1996 presidential campaigns.
W h ile these h e a rin gs are b ein g
used b y both p arties to try to gain an
advantage o v e r one another, they
nonetheless g ro w out o f the very
intense p u b lic co n ce rn w ith p o litic a l
co rru p tio n and w ith the in flu e n ce o f
b ig m o n e y in p o litic s.
M a n y o f the p o litic a l co m m en la
tors and jo u rn a lists c o v e rin g the hear
in g s have a lre a d y stated that nothing
is g o in g to be d on e; that noth in g w ill
be done about political corruption,
about the extent to which democracy
has been subverted; that nothing can
be done about the fact that so many
people in the country are alienated
from and distrustful of government.
They say that nothing will be done.
But. Idisagrec I think they’re wrong.
Because something is being done.
It's the grassroots movement for po
litical reform That movement is
called the Reform Party We re
w hat's being done
We have some very serious prob
lems in America There arc serious
issues of poverty and joblessness and
an educational system in deep, deep
trouble. We have racial antagonisms
and profound m isunderstandings
betw een different com m unities.
These problems are not new. And
they must, of course, be addressed
That is our issue -- that's the Relorm
Party's issue We have got toturn our
attention to the fact that we have a
political system, a system of gover
nance and policy making that doesn't
sufficiently work to solve problems.
No small part of this problem -
the problem of not being able to
solve our problem s -- is due to the
excessive loyalty that most po liti
cians have to their parties rather
than to the people. It is this kind of
partisanism - putting party inter
ests above the interests of the
people of this country -- that must
be addressed.
There are Americans across this
country - rich and poor, business
people andcivil servants, people from
the Black community, the Latino
community, the Asian community,
the while community, the gay com
munity-- who want to come together
and find real solutions. These Ameri
cans are finding that the two major
parties have not served us as well as
they should in this regard, because
they place such a premium on loyalty
to the party rather than loyalty to the
people. And so we have created a
new political mechanism, a new party
that will not play one constituency
off against another, but will instead
find ways to bring people in to the
process through term limits, cam
paign finance reform, opening up the
ballot and promoting inclusion and
better
participation at every level of the
political process!
Only in its .infancy, the Reform
Party is already made up of diverse
people. At the same time, though, we
arc not so diverse as we might think.
For we are all Americans.
Our loyalty is to our communities
and to our country and to one an
other And with that, we can solve
any problem
Creditor
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