IJn rtlan h (©bsertter
Page A4
November 7. 2007
O pinion
Opinion articles do not
necessarily reflect or represent the
views o f The Portland Observer
Hangman’s Noose in the Workplace
o f dom estic terrorism.
Many local authorities brush
the incid en ts o f f as
pranks and have failed
by J udge G reg
to acknow ledge that
M atiiis
these are, in fact, even
C lo s e ly a sso c ia te d
hate crimes. Now we
with lynching in the Jim
know the noose isn’t
C ro w
s o u th .
th e
just a tool o f terror used
hangm an’s noose is one
by immature students:
o f the most powerful vi­
it has been showing up
sual sym bols that can be
in A m erica’s offices and facto­
directed against Black Americans. ries.
T he noose has been in the
According to the Equal Em ­
news quite a bit in recent months. ployment Opportunity C om m is­
M edia outlets have widely re­ sion, a federal agency created to
ported the noose appearing in end em ploym ent discrimination
trees on college and high-school in the United States, there has
cam puses throughout the coun­ been an increase in the num ber of
try.
racial discrimination and harass­
Black students, and their par­ ment complaints filed in this coun­
ents, are troubled by this disturb­ try in the last few years.
ing “tren d ". M ost think, and
Racial harassment complaints
rightly so, that the noose is being have more than doubled the past
used to incite fear in students of 17 years; about 7,000 complaints
color; these are essentially acts were filed with the agency in
Racial tensions
boil over
2007. The hangm an's noose has
appeared in several o f these com ­
plaints. In the last six years, more
than 30 lawsuits that involve a
noose being displayed in the
nia case that alleged a noose was
displayed and Kian videos shown
in an em ployee lounges was
settled for $600,000. In 2006,
more than $1 million was paid to
Clear organizational policies
that denounce and punish this
type o f behavior must be set
and enforced.
v
workplace have been filed.
Some o f the suits filed are
quite disturbing and can easily
transport African A m ericans to
another era.
Earlier this year, a Pennsylva-
Tws
a black em ployee who alleged
white co-workers placed a noose
around his neck.
It’s somewhat com forting to
hear that those who have been
victim ized are finding justice in
civil courts.
However, financial reparations
are not all that is needed. Those
who have com m itted these acts
need to be charged with hate
c rim e s; loss o f a jo b is not
enough.
If this type o f behavior is to
end, the consequences must be
stiff. C om panies must increase
the diversity and sensitivity train­
ing it offers to employees.
C lear organizational policies
that denounce and punish this
type o f behavior must be set and
enforced; any sign o f racist and
prejudiced behavior should be
addressed immediately. Em ploy­
ers m ust also not attem pt to cover
for those em ployees who cross
the line.
In more than one case filed
with the EEOC, when a com ­
pany settled, a spokesman would
say the settlem ent “indicated no
wrong doing". By not firmly de­
nouncing this type o f behavior,
the em ployer gives the offender
- and would be offenders - the
idea this type o f thing is okay.
Racial tensions in this country
are boiling over, if com m unities
d o n ’t ban together to bring an
end to these insensitive and crim i­
nal displays, generations o f work
to w ards racial harm ony m ay
com e undone.
Judge Greg Mathis is national
vice president o f Rainbow PUSH
and a national board member of
the Southern Christian Leader­
ship Conference.
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■■■■■ ■
111 My Own Words:
by
C armen A nderson
I began my school journey in
the spring o f 2002 at the age o f
30. I was the single m other o f a
12-year-old son and an infant
daughter. I began to w onder how
I could single-handedly change
the destiny o f my children within
my ow n pow er. I decided to
enroll in Portland Com m unity
College and I started with one
class, math.
I had heard horror stories about
math being the “nail in the coffin"
o f higher education. Therefore, I
decided that I would challenge
m yself by confronting math first.
I was never a strong math stu­
dent and I did not finish high
school, so the prospect o f col­
lege math was daunting. I de-
__________ THE______________
SPINAlCOLUMN
An ongoing senes of questions and answers about America's natural healing profession
Dr. Billy R. Rowers
Part 30. Genuine Benefits of Chiropractic Help
: Can a chiropractor really
help my problems?
QA
: You have no doubt heard
how chiropractors helped a
friend's headaches, neck pain,
neck stiffness, back pain or fa­
tigue?
But. il is perfectly normal for
you to wonder whether a chiro­
practor can really your particular
problems. Your headaches. Your
neck pain and/or stiffness. Your
back pain or other symptoms.
Problems you may have had for
sometime.
The truth is, doctors of chiro­
practic are extremely successful at
eliminating many symptoms. Often
more quickly and effectively than
other healing methods.
But, your doctor of chiropractic
can do so much more for you than
just treating symptoms. Your chi­
ropractor is concerned with making
sure your entire body is function­
ing properly. Therefore, your chi­
ropractor goes beyond treating
your immediate symptoms to make
sure your body is still functioning
efficiently. That is the only way
true health can be achieved.
But we aren't the only ones
who have said it. Chiropractic has
been accepted by the ultimate
authority; you the people.
Flowers' Chiropractic Office
2124 N.E. Hancock Street, Portland Oregon 97212
Phone: (5 0 3 ) 2 8 7 -5 3 0 4
A school journey at the age of 30
It was reported that I have
cided to take along with my math applied for was "The Ronald E.
class, the history o f m athem at­ M cN air Scholars Program ." This experienced “all the stereotypical
ics, and conquering math anxi­ is a scholars program for under­ th in g s that happen to young
ety. T his is how I becam e a graduates who are under-repre­ people when they’re not doing
student, and learned how to suc­ sented and have a chance at pur­ w hat they’re supposed to,” such
ceed as a student.
suing a PhD. I was awarded a as teenage pregnancy and drug
I earned an Associate o f G en­ M cN air scholarship in the winter use. Those were not my words.
I ex p erienced stereotypical
eral Studies at PCC in 2005, and o f 2006.
In 2(X)7, I was chosen to rep­ things such as poverty, welfare,
became the first college graduate
in my family. At PCC, I was a resent my school as a Student and low incom e housing due to
“ B" average student that went to A m bassador where I will repre­ the fact that I did not finish school
c la sse s and q u ic k ly retu rn ed sent PSU at cam pus functions and I had my first child as a
teenager. I did not
identify m yself as
a prior drug user.
I a lso n e v e r
went to school to
be a Special Ed.
teacher, nor do I
think that children
are in Special Ed.
b e c a u se o f th e ir
upbringing.
home when they were over. I and give tours to the community.
There is nothing exciting about
never sought to make my voice
I feel that the Portland O b­ my story from a sensationalist
heard or do anything “extra."
server misrepresented me in its standpoint. I simply w ent to the
When I began my junior year story about my PSU am bassador college and signed up; I thought
at PSU in the spring o f 2006, I position (M aking Education the o f my babies and signed up, I
decided to go about it a different Top Priority, Oct. 3 issue).
thought o f my deceased "granny"
way. I vowed to apply for every
As a single m other o f tw o and signed up, I thought o f other
opportunity that I was eligible children, I know the traps o f single mothers with no skills and
for. My first month at PSU; I welfare, housing, and poverty. I I signed up.
I am giving tours at PSU on
w ro te an e s s a y fo r “ T h e urge single m other especially
President’s Com m ission on the mothers who are living in low- W ednesdays at 11 a m. Please
Status o f W om en” essay con­ income housing like myself, go com e and learn about the college
to school. There is m oney avail­ system, and tour O regon's larg­
test.
I was shocked when I was able for you to go to college; est university.
chosen as one for the four w in­ money that is som etim es not uti­
As a result o f signing up, and
ners. I had never won anything lized. You will stop the genera­ sticking with it, I am earning
before especially an academ ic tional cycles of poverty and w el­ something that no one can ever
prize. This really fueled my fire fare for your children. Even if take from me, my education. In
to go after every opportunity. I you are the only one in your June o f 2008, I will earn my
applied for "The Diversity Rec­ family w ho goes to college and Bachelor o f Arts degree in Social
ognition Scholarship," and was you feel like you are in a foreign S cien ce, becom ing a college
awarded a full scholarship for land; your children will not. when graduate for the second time.
the rem inder o f my undergradu­ it is their turn. I know everyday Anyone can do it because suc­
I go to school I am the originator cess is not reserved for anyone in
ate degree.
particular.
The next opportunity that I o f a new family tradition.
something that no one
»
can ever take from me,