Portland Advocate_1981-05

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 op– pression 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 bru– tality, 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 apostates o 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 purposes o Eighty-five (85%) percent of our children stayed home o 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 free– dom We must not shrink our re~onsibilities as this would dis– honor 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 imagina- dumping 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 con- release of the man who shot an officer, sidered as reflecting a warped con- Jordan is all of a sudden "jumping cern for meeting nutritional require- bad." 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 wel- be opportunism at its best. fare of Black people. Such day-to-day It is hoped, throughout his en– deavor to polish the tarnished image of the Police Department, his knees hold up. THE PCRTLAND ADVOCATE displays of discourtesy and disres– pect 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