April 17, 2002 Page A4 (O bsrrurr O pinion Opinion articles do not necessarily reflect or represent the views o f Dortlandobserver,cQm , 503-288-0033 • FAX5 0 3 -2 8 8 0 0 1 5 • EMAIL:/ LETTER TO THE EDITOR My Community is Disappearing It is said that things are always changing, for if not, then we are dying. As afourth generation black native o f this community, I am very angry that my community is disappearing around me. Suddenly I’m beginning to feel that I’m no longer welcomed in the very community where rny history, memories, family and friends reside. I have no problem with change, but it is how it is changing that is very disturbing. The last time our community changed so dramatically, I was too young to understand its blatant ramifica­ tions. Back then I saw only the influx of new playmates from Elliot and Boise neighborhoods moving into my Highland neighbor­ hood. Years passed before I made the connection. Now as a parent, I’ve realized how damaging that change has been and will continue to be. This latest wave of “re-development” over the past 15 years is really scary because 1 truly believe it’s the final phase of pushing us out-forever. Already many of us have been priced out. Those who think that they have arrived, fail to see that this dispersement extends beyond where we live. It determines our children’s education, economics, political strength and every other livability issue. Even more importantly, the displacement is a level of vicious­ ness injected in the injustices we have yet to endure. As in the past when we were wronged, the priority has always been the same — we must unite in a collective voice and get involved! It’s imperative that our involvement be seen and heard. A s­ sume nothing, but realize that Hell is truth too late. J. Elegan The Portland O bserver-Oregon's Oldest Multicultural Publication-is a member of the National Newspaper Association-Founded in 1885, and The National Advertising Repre­ sentative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc, New Y ork, NY, and The West Coast Black Publishers Association • Serving Portland and Vancouver. I Reparations Issue Raises Public Consciousness H aven A li F or the P ortland O bserver The 2002 National Repa­ rations Convention for De­ scendants of Enslaved Afri­ cans in Am erica was held March 21 - 24 at DePaul University in Chicago with an impressive lineup of speak­ ers raising the level o f public consciousness about the repa­ rations movement. Portland delegates included Omiso Kenyaty andO.B. Hill. The goal of the convention was to expose the horror and brutality of the slave industry in America and the continu­ ing impact on the descen­ dants of enslaved Africans. Dr. Claude Anderson, presi­ dent of PowerNomics Corp, of America, Inc. and author of "Black Labor, White Wealth, and Powemomics: The Na­ tional Plan to Empower Black America,” delivered a rousing opening speech elaborating on the present day condition of black descendants of Africans who were kidnapped from their homes and enslaved here in America. One o f the aims o f the reparations movement is to d o cu m en t the c a lc u la te d practice of de-hum anization of African slaves by strip­ ping them of their language, culture, religion and sense of self-w orth, destroying the family unit. Dr. Larry G. M urphy, a professor at G arrett-E van­ gelical Theological Seminary, by Earline Arikpo of the National Coalition of Black Reparations Associations, listens attentively as Chicago Alderman Dorothy Tillman, the chair o f the group, addresses a recent convention. delivered a historical per­ spective of blacks and their associations with the Bible. Dr. M urphy eloquently ad­ dressed the irony o f whites in using biblical scriptures to justify black enslavem ent. A psychologist and profes­ sor of Africana Studies at San Francisco State University, he described the manner in which psychologists from colonial days to the present used un­ truths and stereotypes as a tool of oppression. Dr. Wade Nobles said the so-called experts of their time equated Africans with ani­ mals and subhum ans to ju s ­ tify slavery. Dr. Charles O gletree Jr., selected by the “ N ational Law Journal” as one of the 100 most influential Lawyers in Am erica, spoke on litigat­ ing the legacy of slavery. “A full and deep conver­ sation on slavery and its legacy has never taken place in Am erica. Reparations liti­ gation will show what sla­ very meant; how it was prof­ itable; and how it has contin­ ued to affect the opportuni­ ties o f m illio n s o f b lack A m ericans,” Ogletree said. C oincidentally, two days la te r , D a e d ria F a rm e r- Paellman, a 36-year-old black activist, filed the first class action law suit on behalf of black Am ericans descended from slaves, seeking repara­ tions from selected private industries. Three large U.S. com pa­ nies were named in the law ­ suit: Aetna, Inc., CSX C or­ poration and Fleet Boston F i­ nancial Corp. According to the lawsuit, these com panies played a m ajor role in financing and profiting from the slave trade. The com plaint did not con­ tain a m onetary dam age fig­ ure, but did estim ate the cur­ rent value of slaves’ unpaid labor as $1.4 trillion. The reparations conven­ tion now moves to the next level of strategizing and draft­ ing a com prehensive plan of action to dem and that the U .S. gov ern m en t and se ­ lected private com panies pay reparations to more than 40 million descendants o f en­ slaved Africans in Am erica. H. & B. Too NOW OPEN Oregon’s Oldest Licensed Pawnshop 4709 N.E. 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