Portland Advocate_1981-05

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 conjunc– tion with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as the rrost liveable city of its size (385,000 with less than a 10% Afrikan– American 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 meaning– ful 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 stu– dent affairs, essentially due to an instructional curriculum void as related to the Afrikan experi– ence. 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 selec– ted Secretary of the National Black United Front, at its July, 1980 Founding Convention in Brooklyn, New York. Described as a progressive clergy– man and a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Rev. JOHN H. JACKSON is a 62 year old no-nonsense humanist who also serves as Co– Chairman 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 "dyna– mic" 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 pro– blems 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 his– tory 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 commun– ity. 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 cooper– ation between local Black organi– zations and the Black United Front as related to issues facing Port– land'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)