Page 18 RAIN January 1980 phase of the program. You see, all the agencies, all the foundations, all the organizations are saying, "Where are the minorities? We can't f~nd them. The interest is just not there." We're the living proof that that's not true. VP: You know, when I first went to the DOE for some major contracts I said, "You haven't let any of these contracts to black folk. 1 ' And they said, "Well, there are none there or they're not qualified," and I know that's not true. • MT: Trying to get into the energy field is like trying to get into any job market for minorities. We're always over-qualified or underqualified or we just don't exist. When people start to talk abour-·affirmative action I have to say-WHERE? I mean where is it? I'd have to be bigger than General Motors to carry the social needs of my community. VP: Maybe the majority community operates the same way; I don't knov\'., but we literally_have to kick the door down. We literally have to put our foot in the door and hold it open. Mi: Not only that but we have to continuously raise the issues. One of the things we found in Boulder (at the second Center for Renewable Resources Conference August ·1979) was that there were more people like Jim Parker. The issues we were articulating were issues that others felt the conference wasn't focusing on. Low income kinda cuts across the races. There are a whole lot of low income white folks out there who are discriminated-against too. Who are not being allowed to participate. Who don't feel a part of the movement. Even though they're into the ethic. Thanks to Jim Parker we have Friends of MORE. People who have the same interest and perspective but are of the majority community. It's a difficult ~ituation but we know what our priorities are.. At the same time we know what the solar movement's priorities are and we're trying to make th~m mesh wherever possible. That doesn't mean that we're going to change ours and that doesn't mean that we're going to expect them to drop everything that they're doing and jump on our bandwagon either. CC: So MORE's priorities . . . you're going to put together a directory? Will this be similar to, say, the Women in AT. directory (from NCAT), so that businesses, etc., can hire minorities ... MT: Well, that's not quite it. We're talking about a guide to be used by minorities for minorities, but it's also the kin~ of guide that can be used by, for example, federal agencies. They won't be able to say they can't identify minorities in the field because we will have done that. The next part of the program will be to hold a national workshop for minorities working with renewables. Having identified them we want to bring them together. After that we'll try to sponsor regional workshops and pull in local entrepreneurs or small businesses and churches. These are people who need to know that solar does work and is applicable to minorities and low income budgets and people. • CC: A friend of mine, a long time black activist, warned me that if things began to look good for us, if doors were opening and money flowed in our direction, it might indicate that we're not having any real effect. If we were having any real effect, doors would be slamming in our face. The "powers that be" would do everything to limit our successes. VP: She's absolutely right! CC: My question then is, now that things are beginning to happen for you, minorities are beginning to be included . .. MT: No! That's what they want you to see. Things are happening for Valerie Pope. You were right the first time, but you didn't carry it to its conclusion. DR: Valerie is the one in the whole country! MT: If you go anywhere in Washington where they do anything in solar and renewables and you mention minorities, the name they will bring up is Valerie Pope. If you mentio~ Valerie Pope they will say San Bernardiho, and that is not the·minority community! You see they're trying to buy us off and buy Valerie off and they say, "Well, she's doing it so why can't you? She did it by pulling herself up by her bootstraps and didn't heed any help." That is just garbage! Every successful industry in this country has had government subsidy to get started and some of them still have it to maintain themselves now. VP: One of the many questions that are asked Irie is"Are you gonna take the businesses you're developing to support your non-profit effqrts?" and I say, "No, I don', intend to." Those are things, by legislation, that the government should be doing. I'd have to be bigger than General Motors to carry the social needs of my community. I don't intend to try to do that. MT:.The danger is that people still tend to focus on how wonderful things are and don't look at what else is happening all around-or what is not happening. VP: For every opening that we get for our programs we could probably fill it fifty times. Fo'r every slot! ~d I have to fight for my money every year! MT: She gets herself ready by getting mad about what happened the last time. VP: That's right. They don't mail me any checks! I have to go back there and raise holy hell-every time. I'm still fighting for every penny. O They won't be able to say that they can't identify minorities in the field because we will have done that. For more information contact: Michele A. Tingling, Chairperson, MORE (Minorities Organized for Renewable Energy), 130218th St. N.W., Washington, . DC 20036, 202/466-6040. Valerie Pope Ludlam, Director, San Bernardino West Side Community Development Corporation, 1736 W. Highland Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92411, 714/887-2546. Dusky Rhodes, Regional Coordinator, Center for Renewable Resources, 1001 ConnecticueAve. N.W., 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20036, 202/466-6880.· • Please remember that these are all low-budget operations. With your request for information'send at least a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mon~y to cover.their time and printing costs would surely be appreciated. Jim Parker, quoted in Raindrops and n.oted_above, is now a consultant to MORE (free) and to other energy-related projects (not free) around the country. You can write him care of P.O. Box 1154, Helena, MT 59601, or call 506/443-5671.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc4NTAz