Oregon Advance Times_1968-02-08

February 8, 1968 The Oregon AdvancefTIMES Page 7 Du .Bois Was a Man Who Wanted Action NOW Black Beauty by CHARLOTTE RUTHERFORD William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was born in 1868 in Massachusetts. A descendant of Dutchmen, Negroes and Frenchmen (' 'Thank God, no Anglo-Saxon"), he was born into a family that had been free for two or three gener– ations. He felt no racial differ– ences until the age of 14 when he was first called a "nig– ger." Du Bois became an active civic leader at the age of 15, and continued to lead until his death in 1963. He was an excellent student through– out his school years. He graduated from Fisk, became the first black man to graduate from Harvard with a Ph.D., and later attended the Cniversity of Berlin. He became truly aware of his people as a race while attending Fisk. It was there he first experienced dis– crimination, and realized that in spite of his background, he was the same as any other black man. His disillusion– ment with the white man came about during this time. As Broderick says in "W. E. B. Du Bois," he learned that the barrier of color created two worlds: a dominant white society and a separate Negro community. Frederick Douglas led the crusade for freedom during slave days. Upon his death and the emancipation, Booker T. Washington came along to replace him. Washington tried to satisfy both the black and white man at the same time. His in gr at i at in g speeches made black people seek new and dynamic lead– ership. W. E. B. Du Bois filled this position. He divided black men into two camps, those for Du Bois and those for Washington. Pro .Washing– tonites charged those who favored Du Oois with being dreamers, unpractical and destructive. On the other hand, those who favored Du Bois claimed that Wash– ingtonites tried to keep the black man in his place. Du Bois was similar to Douglas in his approach. He Bill Russell Is Wounded Bill Russell, Jr. Marine Pfc. Bill Russell, Jr., 21, was wounded in Viet– nam, January 31. The Defense Department said he was injured in the vicinity to Quang Tri where he received a wound in the left hand from hostile rifle fire while · on an operation against the enemy. He is receiving treatment on the USS Valley Forge. His condition is reported to be good. Russell graduated from J ef– ferson High School in 1966 and was a track athlete while there. He joined the service Sept. 23, 1966, and took his basic training in San Diego. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. William Russell of 4018 N. Kerby St. was direct and militant. He favored immediate political and social reform. He rested his plan of attack in the high– ly educated top 10 per cent (called the Talented Tenth) of the black race. He preached the demanding of immediate action without delay. He said that firstly the black man should be a man. In the "Souls of Black Folk" he said that "manly self-respect is worth more than land and houses. and that a people who voluntary surrender such re– spect, or cease striving for it are not worth civilizing." He concluded: "As far as Mr. Washington preaches trust, patience, and industrial training for the masses, we must hold up his hands and strive with him, rejoicing in his honors, and glorying in the strength of this Joshua called of Cod and of man to lead the headless host. But so far as Mr. Washington apologizes for injustices, North or South, does not rightly value the privilege and duty of voting, belittles the emasculating effects of caste distinctions, and op-– poses the higher training and ambitions of our brighter minds - so far as he, the South or the Nation does this - we must unceasing!y and firmly oppose them." Du Bois was an educator in his early years, but the increasing number of lynch– ings convinced him that edu– cating was not enough. He then went into the field as a "propagandist for truth," as Lerone Bennett aptly de– scribed him. From 1904 to 1911 he was a member of the Socialist party but broke from them because of the racism he found. In 1905 Du Bois organized a secret meeting of intel– lectuals and professionals into a protest group called the Niagra Movement. This group demanded the abolition of discrimination based on race or color, freedom of the press and speech and a recognition of the principles of human brotherhood. This group lasted only five years because of the non-participa– tion of the masses and the smallness of the group. In 1909 a white man named Oswald Garrison Villard called a meeting of white lib– erals and black intellectuals, including Du Bois which evolved into the N. A. A. C. P. With the exception of Du Bois, the first national offi– cers of the organization were well-known whites. Du Bois named director of publica– tions and research, launched the "Crisis" which he ran as an almost personal journal, In 10 years' time the NAACP became a prominent and growing organization. Marcus Garvey became the next leader. He disagreed with Du Bois and disliked him because of his light col– or and extensive education. It has been speculated that Garvey felt inferior to Du Bois and thus attacked him so violently. These two men, if they had been able to reach some form of rapport could have influenced nearly all of the black population with one principle or another. Du Bois was a pioneer of Pan-Africanism but did not feel going back to Africa was the solution. Du Bois finally broke with the NAACP. He was unable to work within the group without dictating the policies of the group. He refused to compromise his principles. He realized that an independ– ent type of segregation was not only going to happen but was a good thing when it did. In the early months of 1934 Du Bois ran a series of articles in "The Crisis" using the word segregation in favorable terms. The NAACP could not tolerate this and so an opposition was set up. In ended with the resignation of Du Bois as both a member of the NAACP and as the editor of "The Crisis.'' Du Bois lost his follower– ers. He adopted new plans but no one wished to hear them. He then turned toward political reforms involving the New Deal. He felt by 1941 that he had to defend his principles more than ever. Du Bois felt that capital– ism and imperialism had put the black man and oppressed masses in the position they are in today. By this time Du Bois was in his eighties. He had been primarily a so– cialist all of his life and did not join the Communist Party until he was 91. He was an uncompromising man who wanted action NOW. Al– though he did do some chang– ing he basically kept the same stand throughout his life. He brought black aware– ness to the masses although some were not necessarily attracted to him. He was unable to appeal to the masses because he was basically an individualist and an intellectual. Du Bois has been credited as having been the greatest freedom fighter of the 20th Century. Because of these avant-guard ideas it is the opinion of this writer that this edition should be dedi– cated to William Edward Burghardt Du Bois. Kenneth Thomas Wins Promotion KENNETH THOMAS Kenneth L. Thomas was promoted by the Army from Specialist 4 to Sergeant ES in January. His mother, Mrs. Juanita Thomas, 104 N. E. Shaver St., reports that her son is now on his second tour of duty in Viet Nam. He left Portland inNovember. In a letter Mrs. Thomas recent 1y received, Sgt. Thomas told ofreturning from the mountains to Dak To. Sgt. Thomas attended Grant High School in Portland and graduated from Colorado Jun– ior College in Colorado Springs, Col. He has been in the Army since 1963. Natural Look Is Here by SUSAN WARRICK Brothers and sisters, re– adjust yourselves and take a hold of the new BLACK standard of beauty. The natural look is here, and like the social revolution taking place, if you're Black you're a part of it whether you realize it or not. The concept that white is beautiful and Black is ugly is fading fast. The new aware– ness that has been created since the movement started allows ev,:;_ry Black woman the chance to take pride in being Black and promoting the new standard. Did you know that the art of grooming kinky hair is Police, Firemen Classes Open The first orientation class for prospective patrolmen and firemen opened Wecines– day at 7 p.m. in the con– ference room of the Albina Branch Library, 3630 N. Vancouver Ave. Followup classes will be held Feb. 12 and Feb. 21 at the same time and loca– tion. The last session Feb. 28 will include a tour of both the police and fire bureaus. For additional information, persons can contact Calvin Toran, program co-ordinator at the North Portland Place– ment Office, 3620 N. Van– couver Ave. or call 288- 6967. The North Portland Place– ment Office offers many op– portunities through facilities of the Youth and Adult Op– portunity Centers. Informa– tion can be obtained at the North Portland Placement Office. just as beautiful as grooming straight hair? God gave us our Black skin, our broad noses, our kinky hair and it is a definite mistake not to be able to find beauty in these features. Black people have been conditioned to strive for the white man's look" for ages. It was felt that survival would be easier if one could look as white as possible. So, we Black women have pinched our noses, bleached our skin and straightened our hair in an effort to accomplish this "look" or so-called "perfec– tion.'' But it is no longer necessary. The struggle to become white has now been changed to the struggle to remain Blackl The persons who wear na– turals are aware of the beauty in being Black. In a sense, they are physically displaying their total pride in being Black, in having "good" kinky hair, in having bold broad features, and in finally being exactly what they are and not a duplicate of the white man in technicolor. The natural is in - wear it, Sisters and Brothers, and be proud. BRIDGE GATEMAN Salary range, $371 - $41 o. Multnomah County Civil Serv– ice Examination. Duties - Opens & closes traf– fic control gates on draw– bridges; does related work as required. Desirable experience &trail'}.. ing: Some experience in traffic direction and com– pletion of the 8th grade. Exam. date: Feb. 14, 1968 Apply by 5 p.m. Feb. 9, 1968, Rm. 140, Multnomah County Courthouse. INTRODUCTORY OFFER ,h,OoOO" 'irf\ OC\ ~~ ADVANCE, UU \.KA1 ... 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