Clarion Defender_1972-06-29

4 JUNE 29, 1972 THIS NEWSPAPER IS THE OLDEST BLACK PUBLICATION IN THE NORTHWEST man's Cora Speaks 1 ... •• • . WITHIN THE BLACK LINE BY CORA CROSBY Black mothers, the time has come for us to do more than a little bit of soul-searching. Down through the generations, whether we want to admit it or not, we have not carried the torch of our humanity as high as we might have. It has been said, " .•. black people have survived because of the black wo- man •.. " Trees survive, old things survive; --and black peorle? We have endured, because we learn t~ hate, fear and fight one another. We have not defined --for ourselves and for our children-- the values, our~ human values, that will insure our human survival. All arouJ us are warnings of the danger of becoming over– ~y concerned with ~ppearances, and the sole preoccupation of acquiring possessions. The dangers within the black line of exclusion are as great as the dangers beyond. Our youth see this. But very few of us heed the significance ot the many signs. We ignore the signs because self-denial blinds us. And when we are confronted by our children --and by the demands of human survival-- we cecome angry and ultra-critical of oursel– ves and of one another. It is time we learned that anger and negative criticism, turned inward, are self-defeating: they rob us of initiative, and keep us in a state of frustrated helplessness; in other words: we place ourselves in limbo. Self-hatred alienates us one f~om the other, and each of us is left alone to vegetate her way into old age --and the grave. And so, engulfed by inertia and willfully allowing our brains and spirit to atrophy wedeny our comon humanity and thwart any chance at meaning ful communication with our families and neithbors. Our young people turn to us for love and guidance. They too often encounter indifference and hate. And the escape the reality of being rejected, they turn from us. Is it any won– der? And so, the vicious cycle is not broken and our youth become the cardboard people their mother are: one-dimension, existing like subhumans, without intelect or spirit. We can no longer procrastinate, or pass the buck. Today we must begin vigourous, concerted actions to change our out– look, to reach our a hand and unite for our com~on interest and make a feaffirmation to life and human dignity. BY: CORA CROSBY II II II THE LINE OF EXCLUSION Today, as always, the progress of African Americans --the aspirations of a people who have long been pushed aside and told to ''wait"--is viewed with hostility. From within and form without, the line of exclusion obstruct the paths leading to a better life, --ever curving, delineating and negating our every effort. Again, we find "law and order" is substituted for Justice; and the line becomes the wall that separates the "desirving" form the "undeserving" --based on what criteria? Too often our youth are denied their right to self-know– ledge by their own teachers. These same teachers share the sequestered life, but they misteach because their judgment is infected with the corrosive acid of self-hatred. They are the people whose disinterested, warped way of think is the beginn– ing of the destruction of a black child's mind --begun before he can become aware. They in their willful blindness impart to the black child no semblance of the truth: that he is a human being. Many of our young people are already so crippled ( emot– ionally) that it is unlikely that will advance. For they are faced with the encouraging support they need. Their human rights, privileges and liberties are minimal. If, per chance, they dare question the reasons why, they are immediately brand– ed as "hoodlums","criminals" and etc. The situatuion is tragic, for the environment in which we live is a prison, denying us all the fight to see the sun and walk amid the flowers that abound in the fields beyond. In their struggle for recognition as human beings on the basis of merit, quality of distinction, who is there to guide and encourage then? Where, within the line of ecclusion, will they find the knowledge needed to help them discover the ulti– mate meaning of human life? To whom can they turn, if not to their own adults? BY: CORA CORSBY SOCIAL NEWS BY: ANNA MORR:tsm: BRIEFS 1. Rev. L. Winters, assistant pastor of the Baptist Chur– ch in San Diego, California, is visiting in our city for a few days. 2. Leaving this week for a visit with relatives and fri- ends in Texas, is Mrs. Lucy Richardson, whil in Texas she plans to spend a few days in Dalles to attend the A.M.:E. Church's General Conference. 3. Mr. Robert Herndon Sr. arrived boack home last week after a trip, back east, where he attended the funeral of his sister. 4. The many friends of Mr. Bruce Locke were very sorry to hear that he was taken back to the hospital last week. 5. Rev. A.Lee Henderson of Bethel A.M.E. Church left for Dallas, Texas to attend the churches General Conference·. Other members who are attending are Mr. & Mrs. Arron Mitchell, Mrs. Corrine Winchester and Mrs. Alice Robinson. 6. Leaving this week to spend a forte night in Calif. are Mr. & Mrs. Roy Grogg. They plans to visit their daughter and family the Rev. & Mrs. Boswell in SanFrancisco, their son Ro– ert Gragg and family in Los Angles and their son, Charles Gragg & family in Los Angles. 7. Saturday evening the Brothers of Billy Webb Lodge No. 1050 were host to the Past exalted rul.er council of the I.B.P.O. Elks of their district. Also Saturday evening tht Daughter Elks of Daplia Temple No. 202 and Elite Temple No. 1205 were hostess to the Daughter State President, Daughter Francis Taylor of Evergreen Temple No 147 of Seattle Wash~ngton. 8. Sunday morning Mrs. Hattie Spann and a group of the Young people of Allen Temple A.M.E. Church motored to Tacoma Washington for the opening of their Churchs Annual Conference, 9. Mrs. Mildred Spiders is spending her vacation in New York City, guest of her aunt Miss Manny Maud Ivey a former Portlaader. Mrs. Spiders planned to be away about a month be– fore returning h•1me. 10. Mrs. James Sullivan recently spent a forte night in Chicago, Ill. visiting relati /\!S o.nd fr:l ends. 1. Saturday June 24 saw a group of daughter Elks of the Northwest States Association gather in Tacoma Washington for the past States Presidents Club meetings. Daughter attending from Portland were daughter Dorthea Anderson, , Loura Evans, Ora Lee Martin, Marie Walker, Eline Me Bell, Ernestine Robinson, Mildred Nelson and Rita.Taylor. 2. The Household of Ruth met Sunday afternoon in the home of Mrs. Hattie Spann. 3. Mrs. Lucy Anderson is in the hospital because of ser– ious illness. All her friends are hoping she will soon be able to leave the hospital. 4. Funeral services were held Wednesday at noon for Mr. Willie L. Rivers from St. Paul Church of God in Christ. He left his parents Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Rivers Sr., four children, two brothers and a grandmother Mrs. Sara Baker. Vann Mortuary Directors. 5. Saturday evening June 24 in the New hope Baptist Chur– ch, Miss Betty Jean Calvett became the bride of Mr. Gregg Phil– lips. They repeating the wedding vows before a beautiful bower of flowers enhanced by candlelight. Rev. Newtone officiated. Music by the church choir. Brides maids were Miss Shirelie Calvett, Barbara Mitchone and Elizabeth Phillips. Maid of Honor, Miss Versell Williams. Best Man, Mr. Donald Calvett., Urshers, Mr. Mitchell Callvett, Mr. Willie Phillips. Following the cermony the brides parents honored them with a reciption. In the recieving line were the parents of the bride Mr & Mrs. Calvett, grooms Parents Mr. & Mrs. Phillips and the brides grandmother Mrs. Carolyn Me Donald. The happy couple recieved many beautiful and useful gifts. They are hone~nooning in Canada. ORGANIZE BLACK POLITICAL POWER 2887279