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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (April 23, 2014)
April 23, 2014 ^ortlanh (Obserucr Page 9 Opinion articles do not necessarily represent the views o f the Portland Observer. We welcome reader essays, photos and story ideas. Submit to news@portlandobserver.com. Children of Color in the United States Obstacles on the pathway to opportunity by the beth R ev . E liza L eung "Every parent wants good schools, safe com munities and access to the services their chil- ( dren n e e d ... [but] Afri can-American, Latino, Ameri can Indian and subgroups of Asian and Pacific Islander kids face some of the biggest ob stacles on the pathway to oppor tunity"... according to a 2014 "Race for Results" report on the state of children of color re leased in April by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. By 2018, children of color will be the majority, but they, their families and communities are dis proportionately lacking in re sources on their pathway to op portunity. By 2030, these chil dren will become the m a jo rity o f the w orkforce; and by 2050, they will be the majority of the popu lation. Our future re quires that we help all children and not let children o f color be consigned to the sidelines. The "Race for Results" report scores children's progress — across racial groups, among eth nic groups and by geographic locations - in meeting critical milestones for their long-term success. Indicators include ba bies bom at normal birth weight, fourth graders who scored at or above proficient levels in read ing, children who live in low- poverty areas (poverty <20%), high school students graduating on time, etc. A frican-A m erican children are in a national crisis according to the "Race for Results" index score. They particularly fare poorly in Michigan, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and in South Carolina where they are least likely over all to become middle-class. American Indian children face some of the steepest barriers to success, like African American children, especially in the upper Midwest, Southwest and moun tain states. In South Dakota, they fare worst of any groups in any state. White children in the north eastern states of New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecti cut hold the top three scores for white children on the index. While in the South, especially the ex treme poor regions of West Vir Japanese, Asian Indian and Fili ginia (Appalachia) and M issis pino children. sippi (the Delta), white children Fair-minded persons who be score the lowest two. lieve in equitable opportunity rec Children from immigrant fami ognize that the above are ex lies face greater obstacles than amples of the continuing impact children in U.S. bom families o f structural racism . Though because of the household not great progress has been made to being fluent in English, parents' roll back overt racist laws and lack of a high school degree, and customs, the cultural norms and legal status that can keep them bias in our foundational institu from accessing public programs. tions that limit opportunity for Latino children from more children of color are legitimized than 40 states scored in the lower over time through seemingly half of the index. Families from "colorblind" customs, practices Mexico, the Caribbean and Cen and policies. tral America face bigger barri This report helps us to see "a ers in attaining economic secu clear picture of yesterday's his rity than those from Cuba, Spain to ry , to d a y 's re a lity and or South America. Asian and tomorrow's hope for the nation's Pacific Islander children of future." Hmong, Laotian, Cambodian, Elizabeth Leung is Minister and Vietnamese descent are the fo r Racial Justice fo r the least likely to score high on eco United Church o f Christ’s Jus nomic security com pared to tice and Witness Ministries. Well, Mostly Vegetarian An honest conversation about our food by J ill R ichardson As a vegetarian, I have to walk a fine line. Really, I’m not judg ing you. But I often find it necessary to estab lish myself as “not a threat” to meat eaters. I also occasionally bump up against militant vegans. Consider this collision I had the other day with a devout vegangelical. While at a potluck among an omnivorous group that included a woman who raises and slaughters chickens and tur keys for meat, I tried to politely excuse m yself for not partaking in most of the food. “I’m vegetarian,” I said. “Well, mostly vegetarian.” Then I tried to crack a bad joke. “I’m vegetarian except for when I eat bacon.” Big mistake. Vegangelicals have no sense of humor. “Then you’re not a vegetar ian,” the vegan said, annoyed. “Bacon is not a vegetable.” I could tell from her tone that she Then I became friends with farm was eager for a good fight — a ers and ranchers who raise ani fight I did not want to have. mals for food on. sustainable, The truth is that an awful lot organic farms. Last summer, I of thought goes into my diet, as it even spent a week on a farm, does for much of my lifestyle. I caring for pigs, chickens, cows, care about the world and lambs that were all heading around me and I care for som eone’s plate. It tempered about my health. I don’t my view of eating animal prod want to buy products ucts. that were produced via These animals lived a good human or animal suf life. They grazed on grass, had fering, and I don’t want plenty of room to roam around, to consume or use anything that and they were cared for by hu will harm my health or the planet. mans who loved them. There are, of course, limits to To a vegan, that’s still not this way of life because nobody good enough. To me, th at’s in modem society can be abso pretty damn good. I ate meat lutely perfect. I’m sure there are from that farm while I was there. clothes in my closet that were Then I went back to abstaining made in sweatshops. I can’t af after I left. ford solar panels and I drive a But complicated explanations car. While my Prius gets good can’t be communicated quickly. mileage, like most cars it re And emotions can run high at quires occasional trips to the mealtime. Meat eaters wonder pump. if I think they are murderers But I try. Hard. while vegans get ticked because And I try to be a mindful I fall short of their standards. consumer in a way that is man Even when meat isn’t the is ageable and affordable, not sue, something else can become c ra z y -m a k in g . I m ake one a touchstone. change at a time and gradually Why w on’t I eat processed adjust my lifestyle. food? Why do I prefer to eat I gave up meat in 2005, and organic? And, do my choices even went vegan for a year imply that others around me are trashing the environment, tortur ing animals, or poisoning them selves and their kids every time they sit down to enjoy a meal? Here are my answers: no, no, and no. I usually diffuse tensions by laughing at myself, excusing my strange diet by saying, “I ’m weird.” Becoming a Californian helps. Everyone knows all Cali fornians are weird. I wish strident vegetarians and vegans would chill out too. This tension erects a barrier to d is c u s s io n , le a r n in g , and changing. W ould you want to learn anything from a vegetar ian you think is judging you for e a tin g a h a m b u rg e r? A nd maybe a vegan can learn som e th in g from a ra n c h e r w ho raises anim als for meat. E veryone should becom e more open to honest conver sations about our food without judging one another or becom ing d e fe n siv e ab o u t being judged. OtherWords columnist Jill Richardson is the author o f Recipe fo r America: Why Our Food System Is Broken and What We Can Do to Fix It. THE LAW OFFICES OF Patrick John Sweeney, P.C Patrick John Sweeney Attorney at Law 1549 SE Ladd, Portland, Oregon Portland: (503) 244-2080 Hillsoboro: (503)244-2081 Facsimile: (503) 244-2084 Email: Sweeney@PDXLawyer.com
