Observer_1945-05-15

Page 4 EDITORIAL PAGE MAY 15, 1945 The OBSERVER Olftce 2017 N. WUiia.ms Avenue, Port.laud 12, Oregon Telephone WEbster 384{) WILLIAM H. McCLENDON, Publisher Established 1943 The OBSERVER is a valiant defender against segregation and its related evns· a vigilant champion for freedom, equality, liberty and justice; an al~rt guard against all social atroci~ies; a vitriolic ana~yst and severe critic of discriminatory practices; a sentmel to warn of all Impend- ing retrogressive social trends and tendenci.es_. . ' The OBSERVER is not financed or subsidiZed by any partisan group, ,organJzatlon or individual . - The OBSERVER bases its whole program on the .goal of equality of opportunity for all minority peoples to share fully in the political, eco– nomic and public life of the country. The problems of the Negro people shall be shown to be related! to those of other National minority groups and to the world issues created by the War and to the International ar– rangements resulting after it. Member of the Associated Negro Press, Calvin's Ne"!'spaper. Serrlice, Tetl yates Publications, Inc., Independen' Press Sermce. This newspaper reserves the right to print for publication all press dispatches, features and photos forwarded by these agencies or otherwise credited to them. ~·· ANOTHER SUGGESTED PLAN One glaring truth blandly exposing itself for the benefit of th~se who care to observe is the indisputable fact that the Negro Commumty of Portland is gradually disentegrating. Accentuating this program of decay is the blase and lackadaisical attitudes of the Negro people rela– tive to all pertinent social issues. In practically every quarter of Negro activity the prominently functioning individuals are continu– ing to four-flush, day dream and carry on a foolish practice of .glory– mongering. The fact that there is little courage and aggressiveness among this people is becoming more noticeable daily. The l~ck of unity on the part of those who feel they are fit to lead and the1r ~er­ sisting in keeping alive personal antagonism and time-worn gnev– ances portends to stulify completely all progress that may be made by the members of this minoritr group. Here of late the Negroes have shown a strong tendency to revel in delusions of grandeur ·which center around a few mad ideas about their non-existent but pretended self-sufficiency. On the other hand, these same persons are infamously known to bow and scrape in the presence of petty white politicians and law enforcement authorities. The damage to result from such folly is obvious even to the mentally deranged. Many evils gain momentum while the main body of the Negro people and its leadership sit idly by. For instance, it is doubt– ful if there has been one case recorded in the last fifteen months where a Negro was charged with a crime and had a trial by jury that he was not convicted and sentenced. It is doubtful if a checkup of the records in the county clerk's office would even show any marked extensions of lenienc-y to any Negro. The same can be said of cases that have to be tried before most of the judges here. In this matter conditions have reached a point where a Negro must accept a crim– inal conviction if he is charged with a crime even if he is not proven qulty. Once reason for this is that it is practically impossible. to find an impartial and unprejudiced jury. When lawyers defendmg Negro clients conduct the usual inquisitions to determine if jurors harbor racial prejudices they are unable to get admissions on this score from those whom they question. Moreover, the division which now exist throughout the ranks of the Negro community prevents the concentra– ton of an effective group program to alter such situations. These factors, however, will have tremendous influence upon the employment of Negroes in the post war period. For example, it will not be long before character references will be far more necessary to gain job privileges than they have been during the war era. At the present time, more than ten petty organizations embody– ing Negro functionaries who express only subjective and inconse– quential intentions and futile ambitions are in existence. This does not include the many similar groups that are to be found in the war housing projects in this area. All of them claim to have programs designed to resist discrimination and segregation. It is needless to say that all of this overlapping on the same theme is disgusting and superfluous. Not one of these groups will ever be effective in a sin– gle endeavor because the persons whom they must influence know before hand that they have only factional backing and do not offer overall representation. There are only two organizations with offices here that have the machinery to promote any basic changes in the race relations structure of this country and community as far as Negroes are concerned and involved. These are the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National Urban League. National organizations are undoubtedly far more effective in the struggles to better the conditions of oppressed peoples because they are capable of taking an ebjective position based upon a nation-wide abusive situation. In recent weeks many incidents have occurred to show the Negro people how determined the "Profes~onal Negro Lovers" are to increase the division that already exist within the ranks of this minority. They have imported skillful Negro informers into this community many times to explain in detail the various limita– tions that surround Negro activity in every field. These figures serve well the white persons who seek to capitalize upon the current efforts of minorities to gain recognition and opportunity by using these at– tempts as mediums to catapault themselves into dominant and au– thoritative community posts. They find it very valuable and profi~-[ Color In Frisco There is plenty of color m evi- dence at the UNCIO at San Fran– cisco. A glance at the auditorium convinces the onlooker that color is suffused plentifully through the Arabia delegation. Chief-Guard dia. She is in San Francisco on an Rihan is 40 years old, was born in unofficial basis but the tiny, brown Arabia and grew J.lP with the woman, with rare intelligence and prince as a constant companion. dynamic energy is forcing the cause The colorful grou~ of Arabs all of her people upon the attention of of whom wear robes arrived by the conference. world. Above is one of the retinue airliner. • of the Arab delegation, Chief Mrs. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Church Directory Body-Guard Marzouk Bin Rihan. sister of th<J imprisoned Indian Na- H . · · 1 d t · t se to the t1'onal1'st leader, Jawaharlal Nohru, lS pnnc1pa u Y lS 0 e MT. OLIVET BAl'TIST CHURCH safety of H. R. H. Faisal Ibn created a sensation when she at- N. E. First Avenue & Schuyler Abdul Aziz, chairman of the Saudi tacked the British policies in In- Portland, Oregon Watch the next issue of THE OBSERVER for the details on an IMPORTANT POLITICAL ISSUE OF immediate interest to PORTLAND'S TAXPAYERS! able to know what significance Negroes attach to petty meetings, tea sippings, conferences and other gatherings that carry a flimsy social import. With this knowledge at their disposal these persons frequently make arrangements for affairs of this sort where an interesting prac– tice of acceptance and exclusion of various Negro personages is car– ried out. This is usually done in a veiled, subtle manner. It would be the height of redundancy to say that such tactics create a condi– tion of total disruption throughout the ranks of the Negro population. This column has no chosen or picked Negro figure to indorse as the panacea bringers for the Negro people residing in this area. And by the same token it does not accept all overtures of deep concern and interest th at many whites appear to evoke over this long-labeled N e– gro problem. There is an acid test for all of these professed \Yell-wishers and self-appointed saviors. Firstly, the Negroes must dissolve all of their personal antagonisms and grievances. The ministers, professional per– sons~ interested workers, labor representatives and social work func– tionaries must assemble to determine how they can collectively assist the programs of the two national Negro organizations that have rep– resentation in this community. They must then resolve themselves to carry forth, in every respect, a program that will develop an im– penetable united front to the white supremacists and the economic and political reactionary groups. If this is done the Negro will witness the flight and evacuation of many p~uedo-liberals from the scene of the Negro struggle. Only the honest and sincere individuals will remain to contribute to ·what, in all probability, will be a successful attempt to g:ain a greater measure of respect and justice for the Negro living in this area. "' BETHEL CHURCH, A. M. E. N. McM.illen and Larrabee Portland, Oregon ST. PHD..IP'S CHURCH Episcopal N. E. Knott and Rodney Portland, Oregon AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH 2007 N. W1111ams Ave. Portland, Oregon CATHOLIC CHAPEL of the LITTLE FLOWER lnter-RaciaJ 21 N. E. Broadway Rev. Jerome M. Schmitz, Chaplain Miss Doris Reynolds, Catechist SERVICES: Sunday, Mass and Sermon, 9 A. M. Wednesday, Novena Devotions: 8:00P.M. THE PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH NE 74th Avenue and Glisan Street (Take the Montavilla Car and get off at 73d Avenue) Rev. R. E. Donaldson, Minister, 7524 NE Everett St. Phone TA 1169. McKinley McNeal, Sunday School Superintendent. CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST 1207 S. W. Front Avenue Rev. B. M. McSwain, Pastor Devotional services at 12 noon and B p. m. Sundays. Weekly Services, Tuesdays and Fridays, 8 p. m. YOUNG PEOPLE'S CHURCH Mill Plain Recreation Center "WELCOME" Young People's Meeting 6:00 P.M. Church 7:30P.M. !,>astor-Rev. C. S. Stearns Residence 5516-B East 13th St. McLoughlin Heights WEST SIDE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST 338 N. W. Fifth & Flanders Sunday School 10 a. m. Service 12 noon YPWW 6:30 p. m. Evening Service 8 p. m. Rev. J. C. Lewis, Pastor