(Continued from page 2) Closure of both Adams and WashingtonMonroe, he said, would av,ain force minority students to carry the disproportionate burden of school closures. Past district's school desegregation plans have been criticized for forcing Black. students in this area to leave their neighborhood high schools so as to bring about what the board said was school desegregation. Student body enrollment at Adams is 557, Cawthorne said, but there are over 1, 500 hiv)l school age students living in the Adams attendance area. District figures show that 632 of these students-- 64 percent of whom are minority--attend high sc~ools outside their neighborhood. The cumulative effect of the decision to close both schools would disoorse Black high school students in the same manner a.c::; before. Adams and Washington-Monroe have the second (41 percent) and third (35 percent) highest high school minority enrollments in the district's 13 high schools. Cawthorne said he is iri favor of school closure which he said is necessitated by declining enrollment, but, that "it is possible to close other (high) schools, save as much money, improve programs and thereby spread the disruptive effects of closure evenly throughout the district. '' a series of publications by the Black United Front concerning the safety of our neighborhoods. A copy may be obtained from T.H.E. C.R.I.B. at 249-8501. Pa e3 occasions) in recent rronths at Portland's Mallory Avenue Church, will attest to the 'grand anbarkment' against inaccuracies in our history. More :importantly, those that were present will attest to the spirit of the ••••••••••••••••••• messages that these individuals (along ECONOMICS For several rronths the Economics Oarnmittee has been exploring both the Greater Portland Area and the Northeast Portland carnmunity job market. They are seeking donations to continue the various phases of BUF activities and operations. In order to advance the concept of Economic Developnent, the carmittee was instrumental in contacting various carnmunity organizations, which led to the fonnation of a "Black Coalition for Economic Developnent". The coalition will focus on the needs of the Northeast Portland area. During the planning phases of a pamphlet which was to provide parents with safety tips for their children, the carmittee approached Safeway Stores, Inc. for the purpose of seeking a donation to help to defray the cost of printing the material. The request was denied by Safeway's spokesperson. The reason: '' ...too political". Safeway did, however, make a donation in 1979 when the BUF sponsored "Children's Saturday". with many others who are involved in the struggle) have exhibited. We are rEminded that life is constantly changing, and that we are not sllr!ply, a part of that change, but we are to \\Orktogether to bring to the consciousness of all Brothers and Sisters in Portland that ·we are a m:lglity people and, as such, have the capacity to affect ~hat change. To a great extent, the above is the primary focus of the Black United Front Cornmunications Oarnmittee. When the aforementioned illustrious and eloquent speakers were here, this was thE( ccrlriltttee- assigned to the taSk df getting the \\Ord out to the carnmunity. The (totally successful) ''March Against Racism" that took place in Portland on April 4 of this year, left an indelible entry in Oregon history by bringing together nearly 1500 people -nnstly Black. Again, it was the Communications Oarnmittee on its J~B. •••••••••••••••••••• The carmittee approached Nel-Tech, a company which recently relocated on Reapportionment, school closure(s), economic development (or nondevelopment), welfare rights, job discrimination, police brutality, police harassment, and other issues, are all topics which are vitally :important to us as Black Americans. The nrurders of our Black children in Atlanta came instantly to mind when we speak of "other issues". The atrocities, inequities, and injustices inflicted upon our brothers and sisters in South Afrika is another travesty that should not be allowed to continue. Black folks locally should be made aware of how we might counteract those ills. Committee Reports LABOR The Black United Front Labor Committee (BUFLC) is developing alternative strategies against the kinds of reaism which keeps us either at entrylevel jobs, or out of the job market altogether. One such strategy is to not give financial support to any company or store which refuses to upgrade and/or hire Black people. If we ranain wellorganized and united on this principle, we can use the power of selective purchasing, so that those we boycott will feel the power of our community pocketbook, and those we buy from, will know how it feels to be in our grace. That will make the negotiators take us seriously when we ask for jobs from those who reap the benefits fran our camiUnity. The carmittee agreed it was too early to be more specific about additional strategies to obtain equality,in the anployment place, but we have agreed that there is a need to consolidate a sense of ' carnmunity' rurong us as a people. To that end, the BUFLC agreed to sponsor what will became an annual outing where we can came together in a relaxed environment to discuss and learn old, new, and modified strategies and socio-economic liberation. (more about that, later) In other business the BUFLC acknowledges the purposes and need for Black camunities to have Neighborhood Security Patrols. The personal safety of our people -especially our children, is a top priority of this committee. The BUFIC recarmends to parents the sound advice in a recently released pamphlet, Black United Front Personal Safety Guidelines. This is just one of N.E. Union Avenue, and discussed (with a company representative) its intention regarding the hiring of Black community residents. It was apparent that the firm knew little, if anything, about the community. It was decided that the carmittee should continue to monitor its hiring practices. In the meantime, local selections were made from all parts of Portland in order to seat Task Force Representatives to direct rronies as related to the Community Development Block Grant projects. All quadrants of the city will have five (5) representatives, and a carmittee manber has been elected as a Task Force Representative. All camments or suggestions regarding how the money should be spent will be welcaned. Call 249-8501. In the future, the Communications Oarnmittee will continue to get the \\Ord out to the community. We will strive to make that \\Ord timely, accurate, and substantive -something that you can 'sink your teeth into'. We, the carmittee, will deal with rumors and gossip only to the extent of dispelling lies and getting to the truth. We will attanpt to make you aware •••••••••••••••••••of speakers scheduled to be visiting COMMUNICATIONS Today, we are constantly being bombarded (and sometimes inundated) by an enomous tide of \\Ords through the media of television, newspapers, radio, leaflets, pamphlets, brochures, live plays, seminars, and speaking engagements. Historically and traditionally, Black folk have had very little control over what is said either to us, about us, or even for us, on topics which impact greatly upon the Black camiUnity. In realizing the magnitude and gravity of this ever-worsening dilemma, "The Front" has begun a grand anbarkening upon and against the inaccuracies of our history --both ancient and current. Those of us who were fortunate enough to be present when Dr. Asa Hilliard, Rev. Herbert Daughertry, and Ivan Van Sertima spoke (on different Portland, and we hope that we will meet you there. In the event of natural or mancaused disasters (ie electrical blackouts/brownouts, ice storms, health-related information, etc.), we will instruct you on where to go in order that you may receive aid or assistance. We will camiUnicate the need for and aspects of frumily safety. Our t\\0 basic concerns as the Black United Front Communications Cbmmittee are You, the Black Oarnmunity, and to get timely and relevant information to you -with the hope and expectation that you will act upon that infonnation. -- Whether the \\Ord be written, spoken, or projected, we pledge to \\Ork to make it credible. ''Keep swinging when the going gets tough." Roy Campanella
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