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O pinion
Opinion articles do not necessarily reflect or
represent the views o f The Portland O bserver
CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS
America's
most
segregated
institutions
Fifty years after the U.S. Supreme
Court ruled that racially segregated
schools created an inherently un­
equal school system, and 40 years
after the Civil Rights Act outlawed
fo rc e d s e g re g a tio n , tw o o f
A m erica’s most important institu­
tions are its most segregated. Our
churches and schools continue to
exist in racial isolation for the most
part. H ouses o f w orship are the
most sacred institutions in America,
yet they are the m ost segregated.
Public schools are the second most
segregated institutions. A recent
study by Scripps H ow ard News
service indicates that segregation
has increased since 1991 after years
o f progress in creating diverse
schools throughout the country.
It appears that A m erican ethnic
groups prefer to remain separate
from each other despite studies that
suggest diverse institutions are
stronger and better. Furtherm ore,
the central issue for African A m eri­
cans with regard to segregation is
w hether we are receiving equal
opportunity and equal access to
resources in a segregated environ­
ment. Most Americans d o n ’t find
it necessary to socialize with m em ­
bers of other ethnic groups. The
problem is that many opportunities
and resources are accessed by way
o f social capital. 1 ca n ’t count the
num ber o f times my fellow church
m em bers have inquired about jo b
opportunities and other resources.
So when those who control the
resources isolate them selves from
others, those w ho have less will
continue to be deprived until they
can gain access.
The good new s is that the A fri­
can-A m erican com m unity controls
o ver $6(X) billion in purchasing
pow er and considerable resources
to share am ong our own com m u­
nity. If those o f us who have em ­
pow ered ourselves with significant
resources w ould provide access to
other m em bers o f our com m unity,
segregation would not be as much
o f a problem with regard to equal
opportunity. Each one o f us must
be com m itted to em pow ering our
families and communities with what­
ever resources we find available.
It is b e c o m in g c le a r th a t
A m erica’s m any cultures prefer to
rem ain separate for the most part.
Indeed if we refuse to com e to ­
gether in worshipping the same God
once per w eek, certainly we ca n ’t
count on m ulticultural socializing
and sharing resources everyday.
However, until full access to our
countries’ resources are available
to all, and equal opportunity has
truly been achieved, we m ust con­
tinue our struggle against segrega­
tion and racial isolation. In the
m eantim e, we must continue to do
what we can to em pow er our com ­
m unity and ourselves.
Judge Greg Mathis is Chairman of
the Rainbow PUSH-Excel Board
and a National Board Member of
the Southern Christian Leadership
Conference.
Chronic Pain
Encouraging signs in getting doctors to treat it
Bv C arol M israck , R.N.
Some people have trouble be­
lieving this: T housands o f O rego­
nians suffer from a chronic condi­
tion for which m ost doctors still
w o n ’t prescribe m edication and
insurance com panies often w on’t
pay.
The condition is called chronic
pain.
I rem e m b er speak in g about
chronic pain several years ago to a
group o f physicians and having
one o f them stand up and say to me,
“T his is bunk.”
A lthough attitudes are chang­
ing, too many physicians still w on’t
treat chronic pain even though it
afflicts m illions o f Americans.
Recently, a 50-state University
o f W isconsin report crossed my
desk that rated the states on the
quality o f pain care. O regon got a
C+ and, to illustrate that this is a
serious national issue, that put our
state am ong the 20 “best” states.
The researchers gave no state an
A.
The good new s for pain suffer­
ers is that 85 percent o f chronic pain
can be successfully m anaged in a
primary care doctor’s office. Prob­
ably as little as 10 to 20 percent is,
however.
I understand. Although chronic
pain is my job, I’ve also experi­
enced it. After cancer-related ch e­
motherapy treatments, I was in pain
for a year and a half, at tim es so
severe that I could not work. For
people in such circum stances, pain
is real.
It is so real, in fact, that chronic
pain is every bit as much a disease
as diabetes or heart disease.
If you or som eone you know is
experiencing chronic pain, I urge
you to consider the follow ing tips.
First, find a physician you can
talk to. If she says som ething you
disagree with, address it.
A lso, w ork w ith your d o cto r as
a te a m . D evelop a w orkable treat-
m ent plan that gives both the
d o cto r and you a role in m an ag ­
ing your pain.
A lw ays be factual. Be able to tel 1
your doctor when and under what
circumstances you experience pain,
what medications you’ re taking, the
pain ’s 1-10 intensity.
Learn as m uch as you can from
credible resources in magazines,
W eb sites and resources in your
local library.
Finally, identify com m unity re­
sources such as local w ater-aero­
bics, low-impact exercise and nu­
trition classes; find out about al­
ternative strategies such as yoga,
acupuncture and massage.
T here’s cause for encourage­
ment on this front. Nurses working
on the front lines are on board. The
Pain Society o f O regon is active.
And a new state law will require all
physicians toenroll in pain-related
continuing medical education be­
ginning in 2006, although the bill
passed by a single vote.
The legislator w ho cast the d e­
ciding vote said, “I’ve seen too
m any people die in pain. I vote
aye.” My hope is that more m edi­
cal professionals will “vote” that
way, too.
Carol Misrack, a registered
nurse, is pain management coor­
dinator in the Oregon Depart­
ment o f Human Services.
**A II classes are free of charge!
African American Health Coalition, Inc.
Presents for your health,
Wellness Within REACH Activity Calendar
Aerobics
Mallory Ave. Christian Church
Pilates
M att Dishman
Mon, Wed, Fri, 6-7am , Pierce • 5:30-6:20pm ,
Granville • 6:30-7:30pm , Nickerson
Mon, 12 :1 5 -1:15pm, Jenkins
Humboldt Elementary
Stretching/Body Sculpting
Tue, Thu, 6-7pm , Keller
(Cliss courtesy o f M itt Dishman)
M att Dishman
Low Impact Aerobics
Daniel’s Memorial Church
Tue, Thu, 7-8am, Lois
Tue. 7:15-8:1 Spm, Granville
W alking Grpup
Peninsula Park
W ater Aerobics (Contact AAHC)
Salvation Army
M att Dishman
Sat, 12:30pm, Woods
African Dance
Tue, Thu, 9 -1 Oam, Hasan
U. of Portland IndoorTrack
M att Dishman
Sat, 10-1 lam , Addo
Yoga
W ild Oats Market
Bodyconditioning
W ild Oats Market
Tue, Thu, 7:30-8:30pm , O’Rourke
Sat, 9:30-I0:30am , Nickerson
Daniel’s Memorial Church. 1234 NE Killingsworth
(12th 4 Killingsworth)
Humboldt Elementary. 4915 N Gantenbein
Malory Avenue Christian Church (Gym). 126 NE
Alberta
Matt Dishman. 77 NE Knott
Peninsula Park. 700 N Portland
Salvation Army. S32S N Williams
U. of Portland Indoor Track, S00 N Willamette
Wild Oats Market. 3S3S NE ISth
"M ust be 21 or older to participate. Please contact AAHC before showing up to the first class and for
more information at 503-413-1850 or kdempsey@aahc-portland.org. Please receive approval from your
doctor before beginning exercise class.
R acial and Ethnic Aaaroachaa to Community H ealth
A Pragm a, oi tbs African American Heal#, Coalition. Inc
Sponanred hy the Cantera lor OHeawi Conirai «ad Preyertton ;COC)
Contact AAHC at 5 0 3 -4 1 3 -ISSO or visit our web site at w w w jahc-portland.org
t
Jefferson Student Stands Up for Class
I am fully outraged at w hat the
m edia and especially my com m u­
nity expects from my peers and
myself. H ow ever, even the term
outraged is a serious understate­
ment as to w hat I really feel. It takes
m e by surprise that not only is the
studentbody expected to be out­
standing achievers academ ically,
w hich isn ’t the problem , but the
fact that we are also expected to
take all the messages that are poured
over our school and deal with it.
This is w here the problem lies. It is
becom ing apparent that w henever
som ething goes bad in our sur­
rounding neighborhood, Jefferson
as a w hole suffers the greatest, ft is
a fact that every day the students
who report to this school have to
deal with excessive police presence,
the lack o f com m unity support, and
who can forget about that dreadful
stereotype that clings to our cloth­
ing like a horrible stench. Students
here at Jefferson are trying hard to
create adifferent light that Jefferson
should be viewed in. This is a hard
task considering how Jefferson has
been viewed for so long, but it is not
impossible. W e are looking for a
different, more positive, m edia in­
terpretation, and greater com m u­
nity support. These things are the
changes we w ant for our school
and its students.
Is police presence at our high
school functions, (dances, gam es),
necessary? I can ’t grasp the reason
the police need to be contacted in
order for one o f the normal high
school functions to take place. 1
guess I am expected to get used to
it since there are countless times
that I have w itnessed what seems
to be the entire police squad, (in­
clu d in g m en rid in g horses), at
Jefferson’s basketball gam es. Let
me tell you now, please, I beg please,
d o n ’t c o n tin u e to te ll o u r
studentbody that this is for our
protection, especially when many
claim that it is not Jefferson stu­
dents w ho act out inappropriately.
If that w ere the case, then there
should be the sam e outcom e at
other PPS functions. I have been
ap p ro ach ed w ith the co m m en t
plenty o f tim e that with the series of
shootings, the protection we re-
greatly to achieve the average and
exceed it. It seem s that no one rec­
ognizes the fact that we are on the
top o f the list, num ber one, o f A v­
erage RIT G ains by Perform ance
Level for the years 2001 - 2003. We
have made noticeable progress with
a gain o f 7.4 in reading, and 4.9 in
math. It shows that m ore progress
has been m ade at Jefferson than at
any other school. H ow ever, let it be
know n that the main thing we are
fed up with is how you the media,
and how you, our very own com ­
m unity w ant us to rem ain silent
about this.
It isour time to say enough is enough.
It is our time for the proper recognition
in which we deserve. I, on behalf of the
entire studentbody at Jefferson, chal­
lenge the media and community, as
they have challenged us. I challenge
you to take a look at the inside of
Jefferson. Don’t just step inside, view
few students in the hal 1, and come to the
conclusion that we are not about busi­
ness, but really look inside Jefferson.
ceive is necessary, but it is not ju st Look at all the programs, look at the
Jefferson w ho falls danger to the many good opportunities, but most
problem. The community as a whole, importantly look at the students and
residents, students and local busi­ theirdeterminationtodo well. Will you
nesses should all receives the same take the challenge?
W e are ready for our tim e to
am ount o f proper protection until it
is said that there is som e sort o f shine like the gold that we are. I can
peace am ong all. However, it seems only hope that the stereotypes that
that the num ber o f officers who surround Jefferson h av en 't blinded
com e to our school and our func­ too m any from discovering the
tions is going a bit overboard.
w onders that show up five days a •
W e are fed up that despite the w eek to Jefferson halls. Believe me,
slander, many choose to succeed, Jefferson is headed in a new direc­
hold their heads up high, and con­ tion. Everyday if we have to scream
tinuously try to shut the m ouths o f it at the top o f our lungs, “ W e will
those who insult their intelligence. be heard!”
M any argue that Jefferson’s test Angela Gill,
scores are below standard, yet they Jefferson High School
refuse to see that we are im proving Class of 2005
We are looking
fo r a different, more
positive media
interpretation, and
greater community
support.
HOLDING POLICE ACCOUNTABLE
Regardless o f w hether crim inal
charges are brought against the
officer in question, or w hether if
charged and tried, he is found guilty
A matter of life
and death
The Portland Police, our next
steps, w hat are they? I am the presi­
dent o f O regon Uniting, the com ­
munity organization that recently
facilitated the dialogue and discus­
sions on race with the Portland
School Board, and hosted the “Day
of Acknow ledgem ent" at our state
capital in April o f 1999.
A peace rally called for by the
Portland Coalition o f Black Men
an d o th e r o r g a n iz a tio n fro m
Portland’s black com m unity was
held on Sunday, April 10,h. The
purpose o f that rally was to express
outrage for the death o f unarmed
black man, James Jahar Perez, at the
hands o f a Portland police officer.
It was clear from the rally that
many people, particularly blacks
and Latino, believe that many po­
lice officers ha ve I itt le or no respect
for people of color. W hether accu­
rate or not, these perceptions must
be dealt with.
elim inate racial p rofiling in traffic
sto p s, m ore effec tiv e ly hire and
retain o fficers o f co lo r, and en ­
sure th at p o lice o ffic ers u n d er­
stand d iffe ren ce s in race and c u l­
ft was clear from the ture. D o the citiz en s o f P ortland,
its lead ers and elected o fficials
rally that many people,
have the w ill and reso lv e to see
particularly blacks and
that th ese rec o m m en d atio n s are
fo llo w ed , som e w hich com e w ith
Latino, believe that
a price tag? D errick Foxw orth, our
many police officers
p o lice ch ief, ca n n o t do it alone.
T w o y ears ago o u r city found
have little or no respect
the m oney to help bail out the
fo r people o f color.
p u b lic school system . O u r p olice
d ep artm en t d eserv es the sam e.
or innocent, this case is exacerbat­
W e also need to talk with each
ing racial tensions in the Portland other. Oregon U niting has facili­
area. People o f color and other con­ tated interracial dialogues between
cerned com m unity m em bers hope thousands o f com m unity m embers,
that concrete changes will be made and we would be delighted to do­
that will assist our police force in nate our tim e and expertise to help
becom ing the exem plary organiza­ bridge the widening breach between
tion that both the police and the the Portland Police D epartment and
com m unity want.
com m unity m em bers concerned
A p o lic e a s s e s s m e n t stu d y over Mr. Perez’s death: To not do
m ade afte r th e K en d ra Jam es so could be a life or death matter.
sh o o tin g ca lle d for new p o licies Macceo Pettis,
to red u ce the use o f d ead ly force. President of Oregon Uniting
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