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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 2016)
Page 2 The Skanner February 10, 2016 Challenging People to Shape a Better Future Now Opinion Bernie Foster Founder/Publisher How We Fight for Black Reproductive Freedom Bobbie Dore Foster Executive Editor A Jerry Foster Advertising Manager Christen McCurdy News Editor Patricia Irvin Graphic Designer Arashi Young Donovan M. Smith Reporters Monica J. Foster Seattle Office Coordinator Susan Fried Photographer 2015 MERIT AWARDS WINNER The Skanner has received 20 NNPA awards since 1998 The Skanner Newspaper, es- tablished in October 1975, is a weekly publication, published every Wednesday by IMM Publi- cations Inc. 415 N. Killingsworth St. P.O. Box 5455 Portland, OR 97228 Telephone (503) 285-5555 Fax: (503) 285-2900 info@theskanner.com s the nation’s leading reproductive health- care provider, Planned Parenthood has a deep history of serving the black community to increase access to health care for greater op- portunities to live a healthy, fulfilled life. Black History Month is an opportunity to recognize that access to qual- ity health care is a funda- mental right for all people to reach their fullest potential — regardless of gender, race or sexual orientation. Planned Parenthood Columbia Willa- mette is committed to work- ing with the next generation of black leaders in the fight for equity and justice, har- nessing our collective power to create the world we want to live in. Political and civil rights leaders like W.E.B. DuBois and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as well as black medical leaders such as Dr. Thelma Patten Law, believed that all people need access to health care to complete their educa- tion, plan their lives and pro- tect their families. As our na- tion celebrates Black History Month, we’re honoring that commitment and are grateful for their leadership in help- ing expand access to health care. This commitment and leadership inspires what we Sirius Bonner Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette — as a community — do today. Far too many African Americans continue to face unequal access to proper healthcare and education services. As a result, African American women are dying at higher rates than their white counterparts due to “ care and opportunity. Many African Americans have laid the groundwork for the great strides we’ve made in improving health- care outcomes for our com- munity. These leaders of the past inspire our present and make way for the future. And that’s why during Black His- tory Month, Planned Parent- hood Columbia Willamette is honoring leaders of the past, present and future as Dream Keepers. We’re honoring activ- ists like #BlackLivesMatter founders Alicia Garza, Pa- ers like Laverne Cox, a trans- gender advocate and Em- my-nominated actress on the Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black.” She is a leader in talking about the intersection of different identities and their importance to under- standing transgender issues. There’s a saying that you can’t know where you’re go- ing without understanding where you’ve been — and this rings true for reproductive freedom for the black com- munity. The history of the re- productive rights movement and the black community is as complicated as the nation’s, but through- out our history, we have worked together to break down barriers to healthcare access posed by poverty, rac- ism and politics. For nearly a century, Planned Parenthood has worked to address racial and economic bias in access to health care. We take this op- portunity during Black Histo- ry Month to remind ourselves that this work is only success- ful if we continue to develop partnerships with the com- munities we serve. This unit- ed work will not only improve healthcare outcomes for all, but create fair opportunities to succeed in all areas of life. Far too many African Americans con- tinue to face unequal access to proper healthcare and education services breast cancer, cervical cancer, HIV and other illnesses that can be detected early. And as long as there are barriers to economic and educational op- portunities, as well as social and political equity, obstacles will also remain in the way of full health care. Ever resilient even in the face of system- ic oppression, black women have fought and continue to fight for reproductive justice and body autonomy. Planned Parenthood is also committed to increasing access to health trisse Cullors and Opal Tom- et, who created a hashtag that turned into a nationwide movement to embrace the re- silience and importance of black lives. We’re honoring storytell- ers like Melissa Harris-Perry, who uses her MSNBC show to elevate stories of margin- alized communities often overlooked by mainstream media. She gives a visible plat6form to those working for social justice. We’re honoring trailblaz- www.TheSkanner.com The Skanner is a member of the National Newspaper Pub lishers Association and West Coast Black Pub lishers Association. All photos submitted become the property of The Skanner. We are not re spon sible for lost or damaged photos either solicited or unsolicited. ©2016 The Skanner. All rights re served. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission prohibited. Local News Pacific NW News World News Opinions Jobs, Bids Entertainment Community Calendar RSS feeds BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION #SkNews My Head Says Hilary, My Heart Says Bernie I am looking forward to November 8, 2016, and to voting for Hilary Rodham Clinton to lead these Unit- ed States. I am so extreme- ly excited that a woman of character, experience, and discernment can lead our na- tion. Even as I look forward to the November vote, I am fully enjoying the path to Novem- ber. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has provided tone and texture to this race. He has forced Senator Clinton to hone her positions on health care, Wall Street and income inequality. He came so amaz- ingly close to toppling her in Iowa that it gave me Post Dra- matic Stress Syndrome. She didn’t make my drama hers, though. She has managed, with stoic dignity, to stake her claim for this presidency. My head is with Secretary Hilary Clinton, but my heart is with Senator Bernie Sanders. I realize that he has promised everything and hasn’t shared how he might pay for much of it — free tuition, universal health care, or Wall Street reform. Still, his energetic bluster has been a galvaniz- ing factor in a race that might otherwise have been seen as a cakewalk or a coronation. Hilary needs to be pushed as hard as Senator Sanders can push her. And even though Julianne Malveaux NNPA Columnist Sanders says he does not care about her “damn e-mails,” the e-mail conversation has to remind Senator Clinton that she has to figure out ways to restore trust among those “ and her work fairly. That’s not why I’ll vote for Hilary, though. I’ll vote for her because she is a cen- ter-left moderate. She isn’t perfect and may, indeed, be fundamentally flawed (as most politicians are), but she has been a con- sistent advocate for the least and the left out – for children and for elders. Is she weak on Wall Street reform? Abso- lutely. But as Bernie Sanders pushes her, she gets stronger. Hilary needs to be pushed as hard as Senator Sanders can push her who support her positions but look askance at the ways she has been too frequently presented. There is an element of sex- ism to this. Were she a man, would she be judged as harshly because some find her “unlikeable”? Would her every facial ex- pression be parsed? Would opponents feel free to com- ment on her marital busi- ness? I cringe whenever she says, “I am woman,” or “the only woman,” or some reference to her clear self-evident gen- der. But I also cringe when the gender-bashers seem incapa- ble of interpreting her words A year ago, many predicted this race as a dynastic smack down, with Jeb Bush and Hila- ry Clinton winning primaries toe-to-toe. Who would have thought that an unhinged demagogue, Donald Trump, would suck much of the air out of the Republican space, leaving babbling bumblers to confuse adhominum igno- rance with issues? The collective performance of the Republican team could not equal that of either Sand- ers or Clinton, but those R’s keep slogging on. To what end? Do we really want a Presi- dent who will trash talk Pu- tin, Mexico and the United Nations? Do we want sons of immigrants who so vilely dis- respect their ancestors that they’d offer punitive possibil- ities for citizenship? I’m not really torn between my head and my heart. I’m simply enjoying the ex- citement of Bernie Sanders, and the way he has galva- nized young people, espe- cially, to become politically engaged. I am hoping that his commitment to the process is such that he will encour- age his supporters to remain involved, even after Hilary wins the Democratic nomina- tion. And I’m sad that a wom- an who might knock it out of the park can also be kicked to the curb if this campaign be- comes corrosive. Congressman Stephanie Tubbs Jones stuck by Hilary Clinton in 2008 even after then-Senator Barack Obama entered the Presidential race and earned the endorsement and support of many “main- stream” African Americans. Stephanie and Hilary had “heart” with each other. As a woman, Hilary can’t out shout Bernie without appear- ing shrill. She can’t out-snide him without appearing cruel. But she can out heart him if she channels Stephanie’s en- ergy. Stephanie Tubbs Jones was in it to win it.
