·(Vo1. r, No.1 S BUF Takes To The Street The Portland Chapter of the Black United Front conducted a "March Against Racism" on Saturday, April 4th. The p~)ose of the march was to protest the ever-increasing incidents of racism in the State of Oregon and across the United States. The Portland march was one of 37 marches held that same day in most major cities. In addition to high strung emotions, there was furor; pure anger at the inby Pam Smith cidents which led to the demonstration. On the other extreme, there was joy and excitement at the unity of it all; people were happy to share with each other in corrm:m concerns; happy to be actively joining together in an effort to increase public/community awareness of racism. No one was afraid to show their emotions. Everyone was loose, and very for real. It was almost as if you were acquainted with FOR AND BY BLACK PEOPLE May, 1981 the person next to you, and you may not have even known them. There was a silent bond holding everyone together. It was obvious from verbal comments and demonstration signs, that the major concerns on the minds of protesters were the deaths of Black children· in Atlanta, unemployment, v.elfare cuts, and of course, the opossum incident where police placed four dead opossums in front of a Black owned restaurant, here in Portland. The chants appropriately described the emotions of the protesters: "We're all fired up! We don't want it no more, we don't need it no more! We're all fired up! ! !" The crowd marched from Alberta Park to - ~he King Neighborhood Facility, on N.E. 7th, a distance of about 2 miles. And as they proceeded down NoEo Killingswortl' , more members from the comnunity joined in. It was a great day for a march. The weather was warm, the skies were sunny, and spirits were high, as the chanting· crowd of approximately 1500 people, young and old, gathered together, with an estimation of 7Wo Black and 3Wo white participation. Ronnie Herndon, Co-Chairman of the Portland Chapter of the Black United Front explained that the ultimate purpose of the march was to get people back into the streets, visibly protesting acts of racism" The march ended with a rally at the King Neighborhood facility where keynote speaker Ronnie Herndon addressed the attentive crowd. He expounded on four major issues: 1) Unemployment, 2) Black male/female relationships, 3) Crime, and 4) Quality Education. He was cheered during the entire address. Mr. Herndon proposed that community patrols be set up to protect our communities. He stated two reasons for such a cooperative patrol effort: 1) the increase in violence being perpetrated against Black people all across the U.S. , and 2) because of the anticipated rise in crime due to economic conditions. At least 40 men signed their names as potential patrol marshals. Hundreds arriving at King Facility ending 1st "March Against Racism" April 4, 1981,
·. Page 2 A Visit with the Members Transcribed by Joyce Harris Rev. Herbert Daughtry, National Chairman of the Black United Front spoke before an audience of approximately 200 Black people on March 24, 1981 at Mallory Avenue Church. Rev. Daughtry was in Portland to urge people to participate in the historic April 4,1981 March Against Racisn. Rev. Ibughtry' s speech was very timely and his historic analysis of the Black liberation struggle made it possible to put the current struggle into perspective. Rev. Daughtry spoke with the eloquence and knowledge of Malcolm X, Martin L. King and countless other Black men and women who have dedicated their lives fighting to free Black People. Since Rev. Daughtry had so many points to make, we are writing an edited version of his speech in mo parts. OPENING REMARK I commend you here in Portland. Your fame has gone abroad and we've been keeping in touch with the efforts you've put forward, and · again we commend the leadership and all of the members of the BUF here in Portland and all of you in the struggle. THE BLACK CIIDRCH AND BLACK LIBERATION PARI' I Nothing I will say will not have been said in the Black church many years ago. Perhaps, in some instances 100 years ago, for example when the country got all uptight about Black power a few years ago, and some Black folks pretended to be all uptight about it, when in fact the Black church had been wrestling with that question over 100 years before; and even the role of white people in a liberation struggle. There wasn't anything new about that part of our history - where we were trying to understand the various levels of participation and the level of contribution among persons of other Ethnic backgrounds in a liberation struggle. The Black church had wrestled with that question. Henry Highland Garnett way back in the first Negro conference in 1840 had a furious debate with Fredrick Ibuglass on that same question. He thought Ibuglass was influenced by the Abolitionist Movement of William Lloyd Garrison. At that time they began to question the influence that Garrison and the Abolitionists had on the Black struggle, and it was the Rev. H. H. Garrett who in fact flung out these challengmg wor~RESISTANCE! RESISTANCE! RESISTANCE! and was urging the SlaVes to rise up and it was Frederick Ibuglasswho said, ''Now let' s try rroral persuasion a little longer." H.H. Garnett lost the vote by one. His resolution was not adopted by that conference, so whatever_ideas I might discuss tonight, I can locate in the church. We have tried everything from armed resistance - as evidenced in the struggle led by Nat Turner who understood God was calling him' to liberate his people as the slavemaster heard God say enslave his people, so if you have any problems with Nat Turner you should have far more serious problems with the slavemaster. Denmark Vessey - when they finally came to trap him and uncovered his plot, it was again one of those who lived frcxn the masters' table who uncovered the plot and told "massa" what Denmark Vessey was up to and immediately they just disbanded the Methodist Church. The master knew where the power was, the power was in the Black church at that time. If my knowledge of history serves me right, we must be the only people whose religious beliefs have been legislated against us. After Nat Turner's rebellion, the Govenor of Virginia said every Black preacher was in on the plot east of the Blue Ridge and he was right at that time, so a wave of legislation was passed to protect slaves from coming together and discussing their religion. So when we talk about the old time religion, the old time religion really was thereiigion of Nat TUiner, Denma:rk "Vessey, Gabriel E_, the underground railroad - H.H. Garnett crying RESISTANCE, RESISTANCE - that was the old time religion. The good old spirituals we sang, they had that dual meaning not just stealing away to Jesus - quiet contemplative prayer but stealing away to find a way to steal away fran the slavemaster. We should always remember that part of our history. One of the things that baffled me was what changed, why after the Civil War for example were we betrayed? After Reconstruction, you know, we had progress. You talk about political representation - you think those folks in Washington think we are making progress? We had rrore progress during Reconstruction than we have now, we even had a couple of Senators. Yet, it always baffled me why at the conclusion of Reconstruction when it became clear that we had been betrayed, that Rutherford B. Hayes sold us out and pulled the federal troops out of the South, where we were pretty much left to the whims of the former slavemasters. It became quite clear what they were going to do to us and one of the things that baffled me was why didn't the Black church resist as it had prior to the Emancipation Proclamation? What had brought about the change before? While there were some sellouts and there'll always be some sellouts, always those who will corrupt religion and everything else. What had happened was that when it became clear Reconstruction was over, all of the progress gained would be rolled back. Why didn't we get to the Black preacher as we had before, as evidenced in H.H. Garnett and many many others. This is not to say that (Continued next page) Rev. Daughtry addressing audience at Hallory Christian Church.
• there weren 't any, we had Bishop M. Turner who sort of went ahead of the Black theology of James Koen and others who came in the 60's. There wasn't any kind of collective resistance and from what I have been able to document so far, and the important thing is that we should always try to identify those sources which deStro'Yed our nnvement and those forces that deStroy our rrDVanent. We might discover that they resurface periodically whenever we begin to make sorre headway. Now what happened as far as I have been able to document , and my research is not thorough at this point, is that white preachers, the white church, and I hope you have no problem with that because it's a reality it's a fact. Th~re is a white church and a Black church, I didn't make it that way I simply found it that way. Nevertheless, on the influence of the white church, one of the first things they did was to say, ''Now y' all settle down, none of that anotion stuff, let us teach you heathens how to worship God by being statues like us and stony, then they said don't y'all read that Old Testament so much, stay out of the old book because in the old book you had a Sampson killing people and you had a Moses leading God's people to the dry land then God splashing water on hundreds of thousands of Egyptians and you had God's people cutting a David getting the dream out. They didn't want us in that Old Testament, they wanted that .nice 'turn the other cheek' but we sort of misinterpreted that and began to talk about a different kind of Jesus. We sort of went around and let people slap him around and so he had to look like a European, that long straight hair, blue eyes. How did he ever get that way? I can't understand European's distortion of history. They d:i.c::tort God, everybody gets distorted and what they said is stay out of the Old Testament. Read about turning the other cheek and love, it was always about love. Now they can talk about love, of course, because they were appeasing, stealing, and exploiting everybody so it was alright for than to tell people to love us: By the time they got through with us in the seminaries, we had negro preachers, who were so proud that they could roll an R like Presbyterian Scottish ministers. They didn't know what to do with themselves, and anything that smacked of a little anotion they couldn't stand it. It got to the point that when it looked like you might stand up and get a little move, they looked at you out of the corner of their eye, but as soon as you strike up one of those foreign anthans they get real proud. They felt better abo~t singing "~tighty Fortress Is Thy God," they felt uncanfortable with spirituals and by the tlllle they got through with them, there wasn't any resistance left. We were so happy trying to be like the European church, even Jesus was so pure and European and wanting to get to heaven. You find out our people know more about the temperature of hell than the tanperature in their own house. They know more alx>ut the minerals in heaven than the minerals on earth. They know more about the shiny streets. I don't know about Portland, Oregon, it's such a beautiful place but where I cane from you go stumbling across garbage, but sane of our people know more about heaven's streets than about their own streets. Sane of our Brother clergy can preach ten sermons on how the gold shines on the streets of heaven, and go right outside of church and stumble on garbage in the streets. I want to now talk a little about the nnvanent, the Black struggle. We're at ~very critical time in our history and that was a part of our historyThe Black Clrurch. I think the Black minister and the Black church was one of our noble creations, they came out of our experience and there has been nothing quite like it. TO BE CONTINUED........... . SERIOUS RESERVATIONS ADOUT CAWTHORNE By Ron Herndon There was much discussion about tho candidates during the recent school board election, of particular interest to the Black community was Herb Cawthorne's candidacy. ~ he Black United Front supported Herb with serious reservations. On some· key issues he has voted in the interest of the Black community, usually in doing this he consulted with individuals and organizations in the community before casting his vote. That practice makes sense if he is truly going to represent the community that created the movement and atmosphere that made his selection to the Board possible. Unfortunately on some equally important issues Herb's vote has hurt the Black community. In most of these instances he had very little contact with individuals or organizations in the community. Herb's recent vote not to hire a permanent superintendent until after the new Board is seated this summer is potentially a very costly setback for our community. The Board had committed itself to hire a permanent superintendent this spring. The conservative members of the Board did not want this to happen' neither did big rosiness interest that supported exSuperintendent Blanchard. They all know there is now a four vote liberal majority on the Board that could hire a superintendent who may not reflect the conservative, racist,values Portland holds so dear. With Priestley and Sarah Newhall leaving the Board, there is every reason to believe the new Board will have a conservative majority. Their understanding of our interest in Black children will be miniPage 3 !;1al. Herb is well aware of this. His explanation was, he wanted to get a Black superintendent hired and he did not think it possible to attract a good superintendent if he/she anticipated being elected by a four to three split board vote. Herb's rap about the Black superintendent defies logic. The only Black person a conservative board hired would make "Uncle Tom" look like a revolutionary Black militant. Portland is not known for hiring, electing or selecting Black people who work for our collective interest. A conservative school board will be'no different . Herb's reasoning of not bringing in a superintendent on a split vote is ~eak. Individuals wanting to perform a good job generally accept that opportunity. Herb was selected to the School Board by a split vote. Be for real, how many people in the economically depressed education marketplace would refuse to accept the superintendent's position in a major city, paying over fifty grand a year plus fringes that move it close to eighty or ninety grand a year? Herb also voted for Forrest Rieke to be Board Chairman and Frank McNamara to be ViceChairman, both hold very conservative views about the education of Black children. When , the Board was developing a new desegregation plan, Rieke and McNamara consistently voted against the interest of Black children. Herb knows that better than we. Remember him walking out of the Board meeting. Maybe now we are to believe leopards change their spots. The only plausible explana- ~c. ion for Herb's vote is it was designed to pacify certain powerful white interest groups that went after him when he voted to fire Blanchard. These same groups backed the recall aimed at all Board members that fired Blanchard. In addition to all of this, ~t was learned Herb quietly approached the Oregon Alliance of Black School Educators for their support on putting the new middle school, Tubman, at Jefferson rather than Eliot as promised by the Board. This community fought to put the middle school at Eliot. Every major Black organization supported this. Herb voted for the Eliot site. Understandably people change their views on issues. We ask only that our representatives keep in touch with the community and inform the community when (Continued on Page 5)
Page 4 . "Free Your Mind Return To The Source" By Rosemary Allen The people who gathered together Friday evening March 6, 1~Rl, at Mallory Christian Church mnnbered about 100, maybe 125. M:>st of than were Black, there were fathers, nnthers, quite a fev children and same elderly folks, a real mixture of the Black community. Yet, there was a feeling of anticipation emanating throughout the roam. Same sisters in the baclt were hurriedly setting out homemade cakes and cookies and a big bowl of red punch. Everything seemed nicely organized, and old friends al)Qut greeting each other. But still there was an edge of eagerness in the air, as everyone waited for the program to start. The program, sponoored by the BLACK UNITED FJDNr, was a presentation on Black history by Dr. Asa Hillard, a former faculty member at San Francisco St. College, and presently a Distinguished Chair at Georgia State University. Hillard was brought to Portland as a consultant by the Portland School District as a result of community pressure. BUF Oo-Chainnan Ronnie Herndon, introduced Hillard, who opened his presentation with the Dr. Hillard answers question in impromptu session after hislecture/slide presentation. statanent , ''Free your mind, return to the source." What followed was rrore than t~ hours of straight fact, proof, and more facts ahout Black history that has been intentionally and systanatically distorted, stolen, and hidden from the \~rld. A hush fell over the audience as Hillard clearly and concisely revealed the true origin of civilization. ''There are no primitives on the earth. Primitive is a '~rd used to steal land from others." said Hillard. "We have been portrayed as the clowns of the '~rld. We always have to be funny to be accepted....While our talents are stolen and imitated by others, who beccme wealthy," Hillard said. Once in a while a baby cried or a child squirmed, but everyone else in the audience seemed mesmerized by the m:tensive documentation Hillard shared through the slide presentation of pictures and literature. Hillard's facts were astounding as he told about Black civilization two thousand years before Christ during the first seven dynasties in F.gypt. During this "nolden Age" Black Africans invented religion, numbers, science, and physics. He explained how praroters of the F·..inp: Tut exhibit had tried to make the Egyptians appear 2uropean in the pvanotional advertising of the exhibit. Hillard said that Moses was I3lack, and referred to the l:xx>k by Sigmund Freud, ~bses and r,bnotheisn, which supJ)Qrted the fact. The publication was recently reprinted. "nreat canposers Peetlx:>ven, Mozart , and Haydn \vere Black men," Hillard said, as he showed how names had been changed, Black features of statues and paintings destroyed, and hooks put out of print. The audience was transformed into another world of a wise ancient Black civilization with Pharoahs, Oueens, architects, builders, scientists, artists and explorers who roamed the world thousands of years before Columbus came to America. A '~rld where the Greeks came to Africa for higher education . ''We did a lot rrore than peanuts and blood plasma, " Hillard said, as he brought his talk to a close. The audience stood, fathers, rrothers, children and some elderly folks, rrostly Black, and applauded. There were even s:xne cheers. Yet, the applause, the sniles, and the cheers sereled to be rrore out of a feeling of pride, than of gratitude , as though each peroon had received a precious gift. The Asa Hillard presentation on Blaclt History is a first of a series of programs featuring nationally accla~ Black historians and educators, that will be held in the COill11Uility free of charge throughout the year. It will be unfortunate if you and your family miss the next one.
(Continued from Pagf.~ 0) contemplating switching horses. At no time did Herb inform the community of his "change up" on the Eliot and Jefferson issue. It was discovered when he answered a direct question on this issue. This took place at a Black United Front Heeting Herb was requested to attend. In August of 1980 Herb called a press conference at which he read a cleverly worded statement that discouraged Black parents from supporting the Boycott being planned if the School District refused to keep its P-romises to the Black community./ When questioned by members of the community Herb apologized for his statement. For these reasons we have serious reservations about Herb's desire to consistently reflect the best interest of Black children and adults. In the past we have seen him work for the community. However, it is very difficult to view Herb as genuinely willing to identify with Black people and support their struggles. He seems to be constantly imbued with only one purpose and that is to be in the good graces of those sectors of the white community that made known their displeasure when the former school superintendent was fired. reflective of the wishes of a white racist authoritarian element; The Black community remained unperturbed throughout the racist sponsored recall movement. PRESENT OONCERNS The recently elected board represents a throw back to racist fanaticism despite the attempts that have been made to conceal this. Blac.ks will continue to seek: changes in the Singleton Rule; inclusion of Black culture components in the curricula; establishing programs that will produce teachers who can do a better job of teaching Black children; reform disciplinary policies and practice to remove the injustices endured by Black students because of discriminatory suspensions and_expulsions. Committee Reports Culture Supporters of the BUF are picketing the Walnut Park Theatre, and at intervals will do so until the pornographic movies are discontinued. This theatre, located at Alberta and Union Avenue currently shows "Xrated" movies. Northeast area residents have regarded this theatre as a public nuisance for several years. One citizen stated: "I can recall when the place was raided while working as a cab driver. It was a strip joint and a place with live sex shows, and I picked up three fares who lived in Milwaukee." According to some immediate area residents, the theatre has not been .......................................patronized by most residents of North- "As we struggle for freedom in America we will have to boycott at times... it is merely a means to awaken a sense of shame within the oppressor. ·' "It is not enough for the church to be active in the realm of ideas; it must rrove out into the arena of social action." Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. east Portland for the past few years. BUF spokesmen state that the theatre should remain open, if the movies it features are suitable for families to view together. It would be worthy of support if there were frequent presentations of musical productions, plays, and other forms of Black cultural art. If the management persists in showing X-rated movies, the community is detennined to "Close It •.....................................lliwn", the familiar chant of the picketers. Movement Report During the past too years the Black struggle in Portland has had success in the followinr:; areas: ;;1:-tcl~ children are no longer forced to be bussed all over Portland against their parents' wishes; Black children are able to attend the Harriett Tubman middle school; A Black principal and an increased Black staff are now at the King School; Blacks are no longer intimidated into silence and acquiesence by a school board with several members who are obeisant to and Contrary to various news reports, the Contrary to various news reports, the local theatre management was approached regarding its selection of movies, and was informed about camunity disapproval and intentions, according to a BUF spokesrnan. For more information about the picket line, times and days, call: 249-8501 Health The Ilealth Coomi ttee of the BUF has been involved primarily with 3 areas: A) Diaster preparedness; B) Cardiopulnnnary Resuscitation(CPR) training; C) Issues and concerns about mental health. On Saturday, January lOth approximately 30 camnmity volunteers attended a diaster preparedness class taught by the American Red Cross. The class covered such topics as shelter managePage 5 ment and adninistration, energency services and mass feeding. A sirndlar class on January 17th was held for about 2530 registered nurses fran the camrunity. It was agreed that attendance was excellent and the response was enthusiastic. Much valuable infonnation em the role and responsibility of the Red Cross was obtained. Also, in an effort to help families became better prepared, we distributed over 500 of the ''Einergency Preparedness Kits" through camrunity churches. 'lbe Kits contain info:nna.tion on the essentials of winter preparedness, anergency poone nunbers, and discount coupons to purchase certain anergency itans. We are oonducting a>R classes and a first session was held April 18th. Volunteers fran the camrunj.ty are always needed to teach CPR. More infonnation and a sign-up sheet will be available at BUF meetings. In the area of mental health, we are in the process of taking a look at what is needed verses what is available. There are many human services/agencies located in N/NE, however, there appears t() be a significant gap between available resources and quality care. Most agencies receive substantial funding fran public sources, local, state, and/or federal, which means your tax dollar. However, since there is no mechanism at the present time for making these agencies accountable, many of them do not feel any real respcnsibility to the community. Due to the present econanic situation such as, increased unanployment, cuts in welfare, and other hunan services along with increased drug/ alcoool use and abuse, there is an increased need for mental health care. In talking with people in the carmunity, it is felt that a nnnitoring group is needed to protect and assure that we get what we pay for - quality care. Labor Certainly it practically impossible to mention and explain in detail the short and long-term goals and objectives of the BUF's Labor Committee in just one report. However, the committee would lj_ke to call the ~tention of their readers to three specific goals and objectives. One of the main goals and objectives of our committee is the creation and upgrading of jobs in current positoins for Blackso The socio-economic conditions of the Black community are horrible,tragic, and dramatic because of racial discrimdnation and denial of equality of opportunity as far as the hiring of Black people is concerned. In the case of Griggs v. Duke Power Co., the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that practices that are fair in form, but discrimdnatory in operation are forbidden by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. "If an employment practice which operates to exclude Blacks cannot be shown to be related to a job performance, the practice is prohibited by la~.'," according to the Court. In spite '
Page 6 of the Court's decision in the Griggs' case, there are in Portland, the State of Oregon, and throughout the U.S. many employers who get away with excluding Blacks from the job market by using artificial barriers. For instance, many employers use their bias, prejudical and subjective judgement to determine the qualifications of Blacks applying for jobs. Although there are over 500 jobs ~the Black community, less than 30 Black people are hired. If Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, rurended in 1972, , and the different decisions of the Suprerre Court concerning equality of opportunity were respected by employers, the socio-economic conditions of the Black community would have been wonderful. The Black community is falling apart, because of a lack of employrrent for its rrembers. The hiring and the pronntion of Blacks have a lot to do with rejuvenating the Black community. Another goal and objective of the Comrrdttee, which is related to the struggle for jobs and promotions, is the consolidation and coordination of all progressive movements related to the defense of human rights not only in the U.S., but all over the world. Several Portland residents are coordinating the activities of different organizations for the denfense of human rights as far as public welfare is concerned. The battle cry of the Comrrdttee is: ''Oppressed people of the world, let us unite for better tomorrows for our children." Black people and all oppressed people must understand not only from an intellectual standpoint, but from a practical standpoint the rreaning of working together, organizing together, and struggling together. Otherwise the enemies of social justice will continue to trample upon human rights. The nrure of the game in any colonial situation is dividing to conquer. The history of Black and oppressed people is the history of human beings so conditiond and concerned about their survival, that they find it hard to think and act collectively. It has been said, "an injury to one ·is an injury to all." In spite of brainwashing and the distortion of the truth by the news media, the unity of Black and oppressed people can be achieved. The third main goal and objective of the Committee is the building of strong political movements for the liberation of Blacks and all oppressed people. In the Black liberation movement there is a place for every Black person who wants to free of colonialism, neo-colonislism, and imperialism. For many years, Africa, the land of Black people, supplied the Western world with diarrDnds, mica, gold, quartz, rubber, cobalt, tantulum, columbian magnesium, tin, and zinc. White civilizations became wealthly and sophisticated becuase of the plunder of the Third World by white investors. The free and cheap labor of Black people has a lot to do with the building of the Western world. The Western world is indebted to Black people living in Africa, the U.S., Europe, and the West Indies. The Labor Comrrdttee ;rould like to revive the political awareness of the Black community. The problems of the Black community related to Education, Housing, Employrrent, Due Process of Law, etc., are obviously political problems. It is tirre for Black people to organize their own political party. For many years, Black people have put their confidence in politicians who made promises that they never kept. The tirre has come for Black people to develop self-confidence and the philosophy according to which if ''there is a will there is a way." No politician connected with Congress or the White House will liberate Black people from socio-economic oppression. The liberation of Black people is a matter of Black unity and Black selfdetermination. Law and Justice The Law and Justice committee of the Black United Front was organized in the fall of 1970. ':'he immediate goal was to assist Black people in the areas related to the legal system. Because of increased community concern, ~ e quickly responded to the ever worsening problem of police brutality and misconduct. We prepared flyers that gave steps citizens should take if they are victims of police brutality. 7he Committee also set up a '":otline", 288-0160, for residents who have experienced police misconduct. The calls to the hotline are handled by first interviewing the callers to obtain sufficient information. The second step involves evaluating the information obtained and discussing it with a team of attorneys to decide what action should be taken. To date, we have responded to over one hundred calls and related incidents. We have put several people in contact with attorneys who are currently handling their cases. We continue to explore the possibility of filing a class action suit against the police department. Again, , .~ thank the Uruan League for allowing us to use their phone number for the police hotline. In November 1979, we filed a complaint with the Department of Treasury, charging the Portland Police Department with discrimination because only 13 of 700 c0ps were Black. We hope to get Portland's Revenue Sharing money cut off. The investigation started a year ago, the initial findings show Portland is guilty. We await a final determination. We tried to get Charles Jordon to issue new policies that would limit when an officer could shoot someone, this is often called the use Qf "deadly force." This is of particular interest to us because in Portland during the 1970's, 60% of all people killed by the cops were Black though we made up less than 5% of the population. More than a year has passed, and at the city level we see no sign of movement from Jordan. Since it appears he is unwilling to do anything on this issue, we have introduced a bill in the State Legislature that will limit when police officers can use "( 1eadly fcorce." The new policy would be similar to the F.B.I.'s which allows an agent to shoot only when their life or the life of another person is in danger. In summary, the majority of our attention has been directed at fighting policy abuse, brutality, misconduct, and ~iring discrimination. Public Postings MANY MANY THA..""'03 ! To The Women Who Typed The Entire 1st Issue Of The Portland Advocate Experienced Cleaners 1469 N.E. Prescott Phone: 284-0844 ANNOUNCES If you identify yourself as a BUF mEmber or supporter, 25% of your cleaning bill will be donated to the BUF. Portland OIC Will Hold Its ANNUAL ru1MUNITY BANQUET April 30, 1981 7:30 p.M. Guest Speaker: Dr. l.Bon H. Sullivan For more information call: 287-1271 Seeking works related to the Afrikan Experience? The Talking Drum Bookstore 1634 N.E. Alberta St. 282-9465 Can Assist In Your Search Do You Feel: Tired, Nervous, Depressed? Digestive Problems? Try The NATURALway Neo-Life Supplerrents contact: V. Richardson 287-2369 -ATTENDThe 2nd ''Ccmnunity Unity'' Basketball Game The KBX) The B U F's "City All-Stars vs. "Ghetto All-Stars" Sunday, ~Aay 3 - 12:30 p.m. PCC Cascade Gym 705 N. Killingsworth Admission: $2.00 All proceeds evenly divided by KBOO and the Black United Front
Page 7 Tshaka The Great Tshaka also introduced the Africans. They, therefore, began assegai, a short stabbing spear to plot his demise. Sad to say By F\mgai N. Ktunbula in place of the usual javelin- but they were able to use other Just over a century ago, a like throwing spear. The assegai Africans to do their dirty work. young African prince sat on a rock necessitated getting up close to By spreading rumors about Tshaka's and surveyed his father's kingdom one's adversary and stabbing supposed cruelty, waving the as his cattle grazed before him him. That takes a lot of guts Bible and instigating a power on the rolling green hills of what (~nd~rstandably a lot more ~han struggle, they got his cousins is now Zululand, Azania (South kll~lng someone from long dlstanceningaan and Umhlangana to poiAfrica). What he saw was a beau- as lS the case when one uses a son him. tiful and rich country that he spear) a~d one of the basic would soon inherit when his father lessons ln Zulu warfare was the So died not only one of AfriKing Mtwetwa passed on to join a~t of bravery. In fact, so ca's greatest kings but one of their ancestors. Perceptive as he ~nghly was bravery ~egarded that the world's greatest empirewas, young Prince Tshaka saw some- lf any of the ~arrlors retu~ned builders and administrators as thing else that was as unsettling from a battle Wlth a wound 7n the well. With his death, the great as the keen breeze that was caus~ ~ack, t~at was as good as Slgn- empire be had so carefully built ing him to pull his blanket closer lng one s own death warrant be- up began to crumble too. One by around his shoulders. cause: 1:ow else would you get one his lieutenants broke away stabbed 1n the back unless you and went to form mini-nations of Everywhere Prince Tshaka looked, were running away? their own once more. Dingaan who he saw separate 'mini-nations' of took over after Tshaka's assasAfricans existing independently all . With the assegai came the ox- sination did not have his uncle's over Southern Africa. While this lude shield thrust· To complete (Tshaka) leadership capabilities was fine he realized the inherent their attire • the warriors wore and so was unable to hold the danger: that as separate mini-na- lio~ an~ l~opard skins a~ound empire together. tions the Africans were suscepti- the1r m1dr1ffs and ostr1ch and ble t~ conquest by covetous out- other bird feathers made up the Captain Khama led a group of siders some of whom were already h~ad-dress · Tshaka was also the people eventually called the Tswana making ominous moves from the flrst monarch south of the Sahara to what is now Botswana It was South. There and then, young Prince to arr~nge his troops accc:r~ing. initially called Bechua~aland Tshaka laid out his plans for a to reglment and the ~lasslflcatlon until independence in 1968. Col. strong, single, united African was based on age. S1nce ~hey all Sobhuza led his own band later nation that would be able to stand started at the same age • 1t lS called the Swazi to what came to up to any invader. He reasoned obvious that te~ year olds \~ould be called Swaziland. Gen. Hzilithat the Africans best hope and have more exper:ence than nlne kazi led his own band to southern salvatiori lay in unity. year olds and elghteen year olds Zimbabwe while Captain Soshangana than seventeen year olds. led his own to eastern Zimbabwe. Shortly thereafter, King Mtwetwa . Not to be outdone, Captains Dindied and young Tshaka became the . Wi ~h ~hese hi?hly t~alned and giswayo and Zwangendaba led the king of the Zulus and immediately UlSClpllned arr:nes •. Klng Tshaka Nguni to Zambia and Malawi and set about putting his plan into was able ~0 brlng Vlrt~ally all Lt. Col. Moshoeshoe led another operation. Initially, he met with South Afrl~an~ under_hls ru~e. band, the Sotho, to what was resistance from people who did not lie always lnvlted nelg~bc:url~g originally called Basutoland but fully understand his motives but he p~oples to come and JOln hls is now known as Lesotho. was soon able to bring most of the· klngdo~ a~d ~10ul~ only use force Zulus under his rule Then he set when h1s 1nv1tat1on was turned out to get the other.mini-nations down. As his empire grew to be around him and before too long he one of the largest anywhere in had over a hundred such mini-n~- the world at the time, he began tions under one rule to delegate authority and made · most of his captains and lieuKing Tshaka was the first ruler t~nants, governo:r;s who ruled porin this part of the world to intro-tlons of the emp1re on his behalf. duce the idea of the draft. Beforellowever, he remained the ultimate his time, African kings and chiefs authori t~ as Empero~ and ~dminiThe break-up of Emperor Tshaka's once mighty empire was just about complete and Southern Africa was ripe for the Boers and British to come and pick clean which they were not slow to do. Today, more than used to gather warriors only in stered_ h1s vast emp1re wh1ch. times ~f war. The warriors would stretcned over much of what 1s be trained for a short time and now South Africa, Botswana, Leseonly for the irmnediate battle. At tho and Swazilan~ very _fairly. the conclusion of the battle/war, lie treated all h1s subJects equalth · uld di b d . ly whether they were Zulu or not. e warr1ors wo . s an agam and go about their daily business. Tshaka was the first to introduce the concept of a standing army. He argued that a nation always needed a ready army to defend it against outside attack. He made the draft mandatory for all boys who joined the army at the tender age of seven to learn the art of warfare. From this tender age, they were taught discipline, self-reliance, survival skills and how to use weapons. Seven is a very young age to be joining the army but the idea was that by the time they were eighteen to twenty when they would see their first combat, they would have had eleven to fifteen years of army discipline and training and they would, therefore, make that much better soldiers. · So skillful was Tshaka both as military genius and administrator that later European historians were to refer to him as the "Black Napoleon." The great South African songstress, Miriam Makeba, is quick to point out that it would be more accurate to call i-l'apoleon the ''White Tshaka" since Tshaka started from scratch and yet was able to build one of the mightiest empires ever. Napoleon did not start from nothing as Emperor Tshaka did. At the time that Emperor Tshaka was building his great empire, the Boers, pushed by the British, were trekking northwards and beginning to encroach on African lands. They viewed Tshaka with great trepidation because he had managed to do what no other African monarch had done before: unite all the a century after his assassination, the African nations seem to finally be coming back together again to do exactly what he had tried so valiantly to do: unite all Africans. Looking at these efforts from wherever he might be, Emperor Tshaka must be smilling today. Let's hope we give him cause to keep on smiling. Cl) ..c: E--< Cll ~ Cll ..c: Cll E--< lH 0 p 0 'M .j.J Cll H .j.J Cll ::l ...-l ...-l 'M I I i . I I I I I ......
Page 8 EDITORIALS The SO's In Portland The decade of the 80's will be one of the most crucial periods in the history of Black people in Portland. All indicators of poverty and oppression show most Black people in v.orst shape now than 1970. The Klan organizes at will; Black people are being brutally murdered from coast to coast·. Recently, a white woman in Oakland, California was convicted of killing a Black child. She tried to eat the child and said, "Black children should be killed." White racism is the system in Arrerica and doing exceptionally well in Oregon. Many Black citizens in Portland are seriously pondering our future. Hopefully our choice will be to unify and organize intelligently. It is imperative that we increase our effectiveness in working together on all issues that affect our lives. We cannot afford the luxury of sitting back and disco-ing our cares away. We must be prepared to use all of the tactics of the 60's plus many new ones and share a willingness to aggressively confront injustice. This requires that much be done about our plight than just talk. No people have been able to talk their way to freedom. Our community is faced with grave problems 0 When the Black United Front centers its attention upon poor schools, unemploynent, police brutality, an unjust criminal justice system, and poor housing, you must be ready to help the Black community and its children's future depends upon each of us putting our shoulders to the wheel.. We are well aware that some local negroes will be cooperative with those whites who intend to block our moves for freedomo All races have their toms, sycophants and apostateso However the majority of Black people seek equality and justice. The handkerchief heads do bear watching. · The boycott of Portland Schools on Malcolm X's birthday, last May 19th, dramatically demonstrated that Black people in Portland are capable of >- unity for v.orthwhile purposeso Eighty-five (85%) percent of our children stayed homeo We have proven we can unite. This was another affirmation of Black creativeness, genius, and courage. Black people in Portland, with corrmitment and carefully coordinated effort can continue to make Malcolm and Martin's lives more meaningful for our and subsequent generations.- The 80's with all of the ominous difficulties must be seen as just another decade in which we will be involved in the struggle for freedom We must not shrink our re~onsibilities as this would dishonor millions of our ancestors and disparage us and the lives of our children. Who's The Opportunist Now? he~df~n:~:~o:~·c;~l~~~~ re- Help You Don't Really Need! fer to persons protesting the opossum With some stretch of the imaginadumping caper, as opportunists. Now, tion, the recent performance of some since being patted on the back for North precinct parto~n in killing dismissing two cops involved and the opossums and placing them in front of circumstance which led to an early a Black owned restuarant may be conrelease of the man who shot an officer, sidered as reflecting a warped conJordan is all of a sudden "jumping cern for meeting nutritional requirebad." He will now clean up the Police ment in the Black comnunity. It should Department, and rid it of all its bad come as no surprise if the police eggs. Why now, after so many years teaching teams in Portland Public having heard complaints repeatedly Schools are discovered to be citing about the police? The announced act- this incident as first hand evidence ions to be taken by Jordan appears to of sincere police interest in the welbe opportunism at its best. fare of Black people. Such day-to-day It is hoped, throughout his endeavor to polish the tarnished image of the Police Department, his knees hold up. THE PCRTLAND ADVOCATE displays of discourtesy and disrespect by police verv easily could be the products of the training sessions now being offered to police personnel for their propaganda. May, 1981 Vol.I, No.1 The Portland ADVOCATE is published roonthly by the Black United Front. Address all inquiries and cannents to: P.O. Box 3976, Portland, OR 97208, or call(503) 288-6700. All material sui:Jnitted to the ADVOCATE ~ll be considered for publication and become property of the ADVOCATE. ~e Portland ADVOCATE is committed to articulating the Bl~ck exper~ence from a local, state, national, and international perspect1ve. ~rv~g as a voic.e of the BUF, The ADVOCATE will focus on Portland as 1ts flrst source of information, and will never be apologetic about its Black viewpoint - be it popular. or unpopular. In our attempt to serve ~ a voice for the Black community, we welcome your comments, suggest1ons, and contributions. · All photos courtesy of: Richard J. Brown ·All material used by The ADVOCATE was suanitted on a voluntary basis by coomunity residents. Black United Front P.O. Box 3976 Portland, OR 97208 Ujima is a kiswahili word meaning collective work ~nd . respon~ibi~ity. The BUF has functioned within the framework of a pr1nc1ple wh1ch 1s practiced by its various committees. The expansion of committee work is always appreciated, and given your interest, please check one of the following BUF committees: Ca!munications Cllture Education Economics Welfare __ Fund Raising Health Labor Law & Justi.ce YOUR INVOLVEMENT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE Name: Address:___________________________________ Pbone: clip and return
Creation Time Black Unity Nothing in this world will stop from shining for Blacks the Sun of Liberty. May the links of love that unite all Africans Become stronger and stronger among all Black Americans. Lucien Loiseau The Drurrmer I hear I see The Drurr.mer Cymbals in refrain Black Warriors on to victory As our Black Mothers and Fathers sing Our Children Our Children Black Warriors All Listen To The Drummers Call One Voice <Ale Voice From Africa Civilizations' Motherland One Line One Line Leave none behind As we your Forebearers ~le on you Your bodies gleaming Beyond nightmares and daydreaming The last teardrop where injustices stop Back to the Nile Within our Soul Our Lives forever Flowing Our Lives forever Flowing Ben Clark Food For Thought "Enough Is Enough! Is Enough!" Rev. Herbert Daughtry "Black world unity is the only vehicle that will enable us to survive world unity" Haki R. Madhubuti "No garden is without its weeds" Anon "Problem-posing education does not and cannot serve the interests of the oppressor. No oppressive order could permit the oppressed to begin to question: Why?'' Paulo Freire "Victims. of racism are created in the image of racists" Halcolm X "Analyze the average colored preachers sermon, and you will find that three-fourths of it is devoted to an imaginary description of heaven, It tells about white mansions above, while members of his congregation live in hog cabins; about golden slippers, when more than half his audience are barefooted. He talks about living on milk and honey in the next world, but when he goes to take dinner with one of his sisters he is given cornbread and peas" Booker T. Washington "The Black Church is essential to the Liberation Struggle, because it is controlled by Black people and is capable of being restructured to serve the Black Revolution" Rev_. Albert B. Cleage, Jro "Objectivity killed the natives" Frantz Fanon "The amount of knowledge that a man has does not secure his usefulness if he so taken it in that he is lopsided" Edward W. Blyden ''Men who are in earnest are not afraid of consequences'' Marcus M 0 Garvey "Lean Freedom is better than fat slavery'' Aesop Page 9 Crossword Across 1. Slang tenn to denote approval and used to distinguish-taste 2. Abbreviated title of BUF CoChainnan 3. Led a slave revolt 4o Known for his sky hook 5o He gained the attention of this world body 6. Blacks had to use it for acquiring equal\..rights 7. Portland's only Black fanale judge 8. Fonner Black Congressman serving a prison tenn 9" Lincoln University is located in this state 10" Fonner President of country where W.E.B. DuBois died 11. Many Black teens do not have one 12o Initials for this West Afrikan nation 13. Many are becoming concerned about its activity 14. Outspoken preacher who is called this name by friends Down Ao What Portlanders seldom see B. Led his people against the French Co Seldom rrentioned East Afrikan nation D. 1st state to abolish slavery Eo Nationalists name for South Afrika F. His base of operation was Harlem G. Black songtress and pianist H. Ancient city of Songhay/Niger known for its scholars L "For Colored " J 0 Leader of this East Afrikan nation K. Was suspected as the Mau Ma.u leader Lo Wife of an outstanding Black scholar NOW IS THE TIME! ...
Page 10 Profiling Organizational Courage In A Sea Of Racism - A Talk With Portland's Black United Front Co-Chairrren By Benjamin M. Priestley Introductory Statement Judged during the 1970's by the Midwest Research Institute of Kansas City, Missouri in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as the rrost liveable city of its size (385,000 with less than a 10% AfrikanAmerican population) in the U.S., it was noted that indexes used to measure the quality of life - health care, education, economics, politics, environmental conditions, and social atmosphere all had superior ratings. However, when referring to the Afrikan-American connrunity of Portland, Oregon - "not so" according to Portland' s BUF Co-Spokesrren, Messgrs. Herndon and Jackson. Nevertheless, both men are wrking towards a meaningful quality of life as defined by Portland's Afrikan-American COt11Ill1Ility. Their coming together and current collaborative work was inevitable given the state of affairs in their community. About The Co-Chairrren - Born in Coffeyville, Kansas, RON HER.NlX)N is a 35 year old activist who serves as Co-Chair of Portland's BUF. Upon his arrival in Oregon in 1968, Bro. Herndon continued and successfully completed his studies at Reed College, majoring in History. While attending Reed he wasted no time becoming involved with Black student affairs, essentially due to an instructional curriculum void as related to the Afrikan experience. Bro. Herndon has also studied at New York's New School for Social Research. After leaving school, he has continued to educate, organize, and confront racism as experienced by Portland's Afrikan-· American population. Sane of his community contributions has been one of the Founder's of the Black Education Center (an independent school, K-4), and as a part of its Center, assisted in the development of!the Talking Drum Bookstore specializing in Afrikan writings. He recalls the need for a bookstore because of, not being able to locate even Johnson Publications (aside from Jet and Ebony) in Portland area bookstores. At present, he is a Headstart Director, and was selected Secretary of the National Black United Front, at its July, 1980 Founding Convention in Brooklyn, New York. Described as a progressive clergyman and a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Rev. JOHN H. JACKSON is a 62 year old no-nonsense humanist who also serves as CoChairman of Portland's Black United Front. A resident of Oregon since 1965 where he has pastored Mount Olivet Baptist Church, Rev. Jackson is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh receiving the B.A. and M~Ed degrees, ru1d a Master of Divinity from the Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He is a member of omega Psi Phi Fraternity, fonoor President, Portland Chapter - NAACP, Education Board Staff member, National Baptist Convention of U.S.A, member, National Urban Ministeries - American Baptist Churches of U.S .A. ·, and had spent many hours in the company of and wrking alongside the late Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. In addition, Rev. Jackson has served on or is serving on numerous State and local Boards, and is known for his keen sense of humor. Given his commitment to the Church, Rev. Jackson sees the ministry as "dynamic" and within the context of the church/community. His ministry is always about educating himself to preach, train,and provide leadership. PA: Will you share with us what led to the formation of a Black United Front in Portland, Oregon? HER..~: Well, several of us saw the conditions Black people were . under here in Portland and it was getting worst in every area - jobs, police brutality, the quality of education was dismal for Black children, and that efforts of one organization to try and solve problems have not been very successful. We felt that a better approach wuld be to get people from several different organizations together, especially people who have a history of ·fighting for Black people and for.m an organization which would attract people from various backgrounds and persuasions under one organization to fight for justice in all the various areas that are crucial within our community. JACKOON: I think it was kind of a psychological attenpt to deal with the signs of the times. I think the signs of the times indicated that the people were ready, problems were severe, and the interest was high among sare of us. I think along with Ron's comment, it was kind of a natural cohesion of people involved in civic issues that caused us to sort of ease into a Black United Front. PA: What is the level of cooperation between local Black organizations and the Black United Front as related to issues facing Portland's Afrikan-Americru1 population? JACKSON: I wuld say its sketchy, or if not sketchy, halfhetetcd. Having been acquainted with the workmilllship of the N.A.A.C.P., it seems that the prominent national orga11izations locally are under the mandate from the National offices, and they have problems moving on local issues in local situations. I have a feeling that the success of the Black United Front for local people seems to be due in part, I think, because the National offices do not loosen the reins in order for their local organizations to act upon a local problem. At this point, locals do not have such flexibility. (Continued next page)
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