Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 October 1981 — Page 15
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TMf INDtANAPOUSKiCOftOft DAQB 1 C SATURDAY, OCTOKR14.1M1
Editorials and Opinions
“Power concedes nothing without a demand — it never did and it never wilt. Find out just what people will submit to and you've found oiit the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them. This will continue until
they resist, either with words or blows or both. The limits of tyrants ace prescribed by ‘he endurance of those whom they oppress.” —Frederick Douglasv
It Seems to me By LUTHER HICKS The Benediction Beautiful
NNPA FEATURE COPING bv Dr.'Charles W. Faulkner
RACISM: A many-headed beast How can you be certain that you are being discriminated against? If you think that you are being discriminated against, yon probably are. And. you should operate upon that assumption. Blacks come into contact with racism (discrimination, and prejudice) so often that they have become “shell shocked.” They see it in nearly every situation in life, they assume that it will be present in certain predictable situations and they fear it before they see it. These statements are basically true because racism does, indeed, exist in nearly every situation in life in which a black person is involved. Some whites readily charge blacks with being “racist." There are four implications to their charge: (1) Whites are indicating their awareness of the distasteful character of racism, (2) Their charging of blacks with “racism” indicates their desire to pass off their distasteful character to blacks. It is another way for them to label blacks as “Nigger,” (3) Their charge indicates their distaste at being labeled as racist, and 14) The indication is clear that they know that racism is a real phenomenon in American society. The anticipation that blacks have of racism is based on their historical, continuous exposure to it. The fear of racism represents the probability that a particular situation will be characterized by racism. Blacks should not be afraid to be called racist because of the complete illogic of the label when it is applied to blacks. W’hen a black labels a white person as racist it is highly probable that the white person is racist to some degree because of the prominence-of racism in American society. Blacks are so fearful of racism that they have developed a near “extra-sense capability” of anticipating and detecting it. Racism is expressed in overt, covert, direct and indirect manners: (1) ffvert racism is the violent attacks upon blacks by whites and others. It could/be a physical attack or the use of the word “nigger.” It could be the intentional, clear and obvious disrespect and disregard for the rights of black people solely because of their color. (2) Covert racism is more disguised as when a white employer secretly selects a white employee ostensibly •- because of the alleged “superiority" of that person’s ability; the refusal to grant a black person an apartment because the apartment had “already been rented" - to a white person, of <-ourse; The dropping of the black person’s change on the counter without apologizing; or the failure of a white person to say “thank you” when a black renders a courtesy such as holding a door open. (3) Direct acts of racism are legal and political acts of discrimination such as the policeman arresting a black person and releasing the white person in a confrontation between a black and white person. (4) Indirect racism is the formulation of rules and regulations that are clearly and knowingly outside of the cultural and intellectual capabilities of a particular black person who is in competition with a white person. Racism is a many-headed beast that rears its ugly head at nearly every opportunity to the ultimate detriment of blacks and other minorities. EDITOR'S NOTE: Your suggestions ore welcomed. Suggestions for future articles will be appreciated. Cassette tapes of this and other articles are available for individual use, discussion groups and classroom use. All letters and inquiries should be sent to: Dr. Charles W. Faulkner, Post Office Box 50016, Washington, D. C. 20004.
Jacob had deceived his bro- Part II record reads, and I quote, “On ther Esau and his father Isaac. Revelation warns us no third day Laban was told 1 He in turn was deceived by his one should add anything nor ^at Jacob had fled. Taking his
OVER 15MILLION BLACKS ARE EU-BBBSB
bargained for. Because of the honest, be precise. “TeH it like countr y of Gilead.” trickery of Laban, he labored j g « §n {hgt | ahaii not fail to Laban, this time the tricked, seven years for a wife that he heed this warning, allow me to sa ^ t0 Jacob, this time the did not want in the first place, suggest to you that you read for tricker, “You’ve deceived me, But Jacob was not to be yowself the account of Jacob's and yo u ve carried off my outdone. He, too, would have re venge. It is recorded m the daughters like captives in war.” his day. It came when Jacob book of Genesis, the thirtieth Do you believe that? “You," was commanded to take his chapter, beginning essentially Laban said to Jacob, “you have family and go back home to the ^h the twenty-fifth verse. deceived me." Boy, what a land of this father. Then the One thing I can say about Mr. ditterence a day makes! Lordsaidto Jacob, “Go back to Jacob is that he had both The rest of th ‘ s is i ust to ° the land of your fathers and to ingenuity and class. He was on P rec ious to write. Read it if you your relatives, and I will be t h e case and made the most of wil1 - dear reader, read it. with you.” i t . Laban thought he had Genesis 31:22-55. In between, Jacob had already out witted caught Jacob napping again, y° u s ^ a ** find the “Benethe old trickster Laban by on jy t0 wakeup and find that it diction Beautiful.” It is called “accepting all of the speckled or was he (Laban) who had been b y some the Mizpah.
spotted sheep, every dark- as i ee p.
colored lamb and every spotted And when he was finally “May the Lord keep watch goat’ in Laban’s flock for his awaken, to find Jacob and his between you and me when we wa £ es - family and acquired resources are away from each other,
The writer of the book of gone, he set out in pursuit. The Amen."
SOMETHING BLACKS CAN VO FOR THEMSELVES...REGISTER
6IBLE TO VOTE IN THE NOVEMBER . ELECTION. (BUT THEY HOST REGISTER) L THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITY ORGAN-
IZATIONS CAN DO THE JOB:
'TEACHERS
MINISTERS
BUSINESS MEN
LAWYERS DOCTORS
UNIONS
-FRATERNAL'
^GROUPS
TEDERATION OF
DOCTORS -WOMENS' SOCIAL WORKERS ORGANIZATIONS
(BLACK PRE55)
Happiness through health br Otto McClorrin
T? \CSVa v
*7a Se Syciat BY* VERNON I. JORDAN JR. Executive Director Notional Urban League
Risky jobs account for early
deaths
Labor Writer Paul Shinoff rector of the Labor Occupahas come up with some data of tional Health Project at the special interest to members of University of California at minority groups throughout the Berkeley, is reported as saying country. He says health re- the explanation lies in social, searchers believe there is a link ra t her t han physical, reasons, between high disease rates "They (minorities) are more
among blacks and other minorities and discriminatory practices that concentrate a high proportion of minority workers in the most dangerous occupa-
tions.
fearful of job loss as compared to whites, less likely to complain; there can be language barriers which are difficult to
An Independent View from Capitol Hill Congressional Black Caucus
members generally most accountable leaders
Suburban housing discrimination strong The Census Bureau recently Housing in the Suburbs,” stareported a sharp increase in the tes: * number of blacks living in the “The suburbanization of suburbs over the past decade, blacks is being accompanied by That bare fact has led to all the increasing territorial difsorts of misinterpretations that ferentiation of suburbia along could damage black aspirations racial lines - and not by to equal housing opportunities, integration.” The most obvious, of course, is Behind the raw data indithat suburban housing discri- eating more blacks in suburbia mination is becoming a thing of ,urks th « u &y rea,it y of a dual the past. Nothing could be housing market and the segrefurther from the truth. & ation of Macks to predominDespite stories in the media atel y b,ack suburban neighborabout the growing integration hoods. of the suburbs, surburban The rise of black suburbanihousing discrimination contin- t es is largely restricted to ues strong. An important new communities where significant study by Robert W. Lake, “The numbers of blacks are already New Suburbanites: Race and resident and from which whites
are moving away.
For black homeowners, this imposes not only the defeat of
overcome.
He said that because minori-
BY HON. GUS SAVAGE First Black journalist ever elected to Congress
\EDITOR'S NOTE: This week Congressman Savage is delaying the first of the final two parts of his Africa report to bring readers this timely appraisal of the 11th Annual Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Weekend, held recently in Washington, D. C. The Africa report will be
continued next week.}
Thanks to the support of voters and the merit of the United States’ democratic form
Admittedly, we must appeal cally all needed for the CBC to
for private funds in our cam- maintain an able staff, conduct paigns for election or re-elec- essential research, give leadertion. However, this is a func- ship year-around and finance an tion outside our official con- intern program for graduate
gressional activities, and we and law students,
need much less than do other The gala Weekend is based civil rights leaders. Far more on three fund-raising spectacuimportant for us are your lars and a full-day of “Brainvotes. trust” Workshops with expert
Now, this is not to disparage panelists,
to any degree civil rights The three spectaculars are 1)
i k ^ ^ .vf. ... ,ea d ers who are not publicly a concert by top superstars of of govermnent.TheTs members Mected. In fact, because of the the year, 2) a fabulous lunch of Congressional Black Caucus tremen dous organizational and eon/fashion show promoted by are relatively free to truly fund-raising conditions of their CBC spouses and sponsored by champion the cause of blacks. effective survival, those who Johnson Products Co., and 3) a Perhaps, sometimes some of substantial and long-term grand Awards Dinner. A VIP us are compromised by the contributions deserve in receptMHi preceding the concert non-blacks in our constHuencies one hl S he r esteem than brings in additional funds
any public official. CBC Treasurer Rep. Julian
ture of the weekend, and one that has no price tag, are the 18 “Braintrust” Workshops. This year’s expanded topics attracted some 3,000 very serious and
practical participants.
Incidentally, The Washington Post quoted one expert as observing that my new new Workshop on Economic Development illustrated the best of what could be accomplished over the weekend. Moreover, as though that were not more than enough praise for a freshman member, the Maryland State NAACP will name me “Freshman Congressman of
the Year" on Oct. 31.
Other CBC Weekend workshop topics were: Aging, Arts and Humanities, Civil Rights, Mass Communications, Corporate Affairs, Criminal Justice, Defense Priorities, Education, Energy, Foreign Affairs.
prospects for healthy, integrated, multi-racial communities, hut real costs to individuals. As Professor Lake says: “suburbanization for blacks connotes constrained residential choice, a restricted and less efficient housing search process, and limited opportunities for housing equity and wealth accumulation." In general, the black move to the suburbs, superficially so impressive in its numbers, is restricted to older towns bordering in heavily black central cities. Whites, by contrast, are tending to move from those older suburbs to new growth areas. Black penetration into predominately, white suburbs is typically limited to the few whose incomes and professional status is higher even than their white neighbors. So racism is alive and well in America’s suburbs. Many whites retain racial attitudes that cause them to react to black neighbors with alarm. And their prejudice is fed by realtors who continue to steer whites and blacks to segregated housing and away from integrated suburban neighborhoods. The Fair Housing Act, passed in 1968, was supposed to do away with such discrimination. But experience shows it has not been effective in overcoming pervasive housing discrimina-
tion.
Congress made an effort last year to beef up the law’s enforcement provisions, but those changes were not passed. With an administration and a Congress hostile to civil rights and wed to free market theories that don’t apply to minority home-buyers and sellers, it is doubtful whether the law will now be strengthened. The Department of Housing
Government figures have ties have traditionally been less long shown that minorities likely to seek medical care, suffer higher rates of disease many work-related diseases go
and have shorter life spans than untreated,
whites. For example: Davis charged that in the * past, both the state and federal Figures from the 1970 J overl , me „ ts have been relucZITAS of^TyeaS ‘’"“0 ^ “J and 71.9 years for whites. would " ot 8° as far as t0 ^ “
is racism, but I believe that many researchers are not sensitive to the particular needs of
minorities," ne said.
Because of Davis’ efforts, the National Institute for Occupa-
percent of the working white ^ft/^/het to'note the PO * P A a i978 report in the Social "'“"bers of minority “O'*" 8
Another 1970 census report found that 15 percent of the total black work force -- 7.7 million at the time - suffered permanent or partial job-re-lated injuries compared to 10
Security Administration Bulletin found that black workers were one and one-half times more likely than whites to be severely disabled from job injuries or illness. A 1972 Social Security survey indicated that black workers were less likely to report chronic occupational
diseases than whites.
Morris Davis, executive di-
health and accident surveys and to look for any significant findings relating to minorities. NIOSH researcher Dr. Frank Goldsmith of Cornell University's School of Public Health said the agency now accepts the premise that minorities suffer special occupational hazards. "The disproportionate number of blacks that are hired into
those (hazardous) jobs is obvious,” Goldsmith said. Industrial health studies which separate workers by race tend to confirm that minority workers run a “special risk”: * In 1976, the Journal of Occupational Medicine reported that a study of 6,500 rubber workers in Akron, Ohio found that 27 percent of the black workers were concentrated in the potentially dangerous compounding and mixing areas of the plant, but only three percent of white employees worked there. The black workers were found to have a particularly high rate of respiratory and prostate cancer compared to whites. * In 1969, the same journal, reporting on a massive study of 59,000 steelworkers, found that non whites suffered four times the death rate of whites from cancer of respiratory system. A followup study published in 1971 showed that 89 percent of non-white workers in the study were employed as laborers in the potentially hazardous coke ovens, compared to 32 percent of the white steelworkers. There have been numerous studies showing high rates of disease in industries in which there is a high proportion of minority workers, including foundrees, asbestos plants, dry cleaning plants, shipyards, the tobacco industry, lumber mills, textile mills and agriculture. The rise of the black cancer rate is particularly striking, because prior to the 1930s, cancer was so little known among blacks that it was considered a “white man’s disease.” Recent statistics disclose that blacks incur higher rates of stress related diseases - including hypertension, stroke, heart attack and gastro intestinal illnesses - than whites. One expert explained: “This is the result of working in hazardous conditions, linked to problems of inadequate diagnosis, nutrition and medical followup.
Reagan's evaporating mandate On September 19, over 300, by Norman Hill deeply worried by the Admini000 Americans demonstrated ula»*ity and when the Reagan stration’s attempt to severely their opposition to the economic budget proposals enjoyed wide- reduce Social Security benefits.
and social policies of the Reagan Administration. The AFL-CIO-sponsored Solidarity Day march was by all estimates the largest demonstration on economic and social issues that Washington and the nation have seen since the 1963 March
on Washington.
The demonstration reaffirmed that the coalition of labor.
spread popularity in Congress. However, labor’s leaders were well aware of the interests and needs of their members and therefore understood that the consequences of the President’s economic program should spell disaster for America’s poor and working poor, and would provide no true relief for working people who suffer from inflation
blacks, and those committed to and high unemployment, social justice remains a signifi- A public opinion poll pub-
cant political force in our nation's life. It also clearly signalled that the President’s mandate is evaporating and that the nation’s honeymoon with Ronald Reagan is over
fished in the September 23rd, Washington Post indicates that the massive turnout for the
The Washington Post poll also suggests that support for the Reagan budget cuts is diminishing. Of those polled, 47 percent say Reagan is going too far in cutting social programs, 30 percent feel that the cuts are about right and only 19 percent feel the President hasn’t gone
far enough.
Despite the massive turnout for the AFL-CIO’s march, despite the significant shift in public opinion which is reflected in the Washington Post, the
Solidarity Day march was no
accident. Rather it was a clear manifestation of the shift which
Health, Housing, Minority and Urban Development needs Th 4 Solidarity Day march was, is occurring in the thinking of
or among our supporters, but we do not depend on any government contracts or grants for our operations or survival in
Still, I believe that your Dixon ( Dem., Calif.), who appreciation of the special served for the second year as accountability of black mem- Weekend chairman, estimated bers of Congress accounts for & net of 1400,000 and participa-
offiee. We, with the majority of tbe ~ eat success 0 f the Con- tion in all events between
Congress, vote ourselves each year about S100,000 for travel and office expenses and $350. 000 for a staff up to 22 people, sufficient to fulfill our responsi-
bilities.
Moreover, to remain in office
gressional Black Caucus' An- 10,000 and 12,000. nual Legislative Weekend. The Although the primary pur number of participants from all pose of the Weekend is to raise
over the country and the funds, criticism that it is
amount of money raised, pro- basically a social event is ves that blacks will support immature and inaccurate.
m must Win puWkly "recorded more tl»» *Jeqtute|y what is Whatever moans are necessary approval by you. the voters. >» our mterests if it is properly to raise this amount of money every two years We must win P resente d by those in whom we for such an essential political J J ‘ have confidence. cause is definitely not basically
This year’s event, the eie- social in significance. Indeed,
venth, was held September whatever brings thousands of
Thus, generally speaking, or 25-27* ® Washington, D. C-, as blacks together has great poliat leas# potentially, we are the “H* 1 * 11 Z™ 9 *? a half million tical significance regardless of
moat accountable and indepen ThisiMMvnrwvides its E P ro f ram *
dent black leaders in the world. This money provides pracU- Furthermore, a major fea-
in contests open to any who wish to challenge our leader-
ship.
Economic Development, Science and Technology, Voter Participation/Network Development. Youth, and my second workshop, which covered Mass
Transportation.
Another special event, which again has no price tag, is the Black Leadership Forum of 16 national civil rights leaders. This year’s session was chaired by Benjamin Hooks, executive director of the NAACP. Following closed deliberations, the leaders met with a larger group of leaders, the National Black Leadership Roundtable. As individuals, members of the Congressional Black Caucus are charged with looking out for the national political interests of Black Americans in their respective districts. However, as a group, we represent the best interests of all Americans regardless of race, especially those blacks without official black representation in Congress, our African and Latin American cousins, and white members of the working-
class.
more power to enforce the law. But so long as it restricts itself to handling individual complaints, the walls of segregated housing are likely to remain
high.
One way to break down those walls may be to ensure equal access to housing information. So long as individual realtors control the information about houses on the market, that information will be restricted and discrimination will be fostered. Make it public, preferably through federally-subsi-dized local fair housing councils, and minority access to suburban housing will increase. On-The-Job-Risks You can get lung diseases on your job—if you breathe in certain dusts and foreign particles. Contributions to Christmas Seals from the American Lung Association help teach employees about lung hasards in the work-
place.
therefore, in effect, the opening salvo of the 1982 Congressional
election campaign.
In the months before the deomonstration, the news media were filled with articles lamenting labor’s diminishing
television on September 23 to outline additional budget cuts. In a clear admission that his programs has not clearly been thought through, the President indicated that he had under-
clout, accenting the depletion of that while the President relabor’s ranks, and suggesting mains personally popular, his that organized labor was out of policies are now viewed with step with its membership, increasing skepticism and pes-
many Americans. According to the Post poll, most Americans faew the President as siding
with the wealthy and being far estimated the size of the more sympathetic to big busi- projected federal deficit. In
ness interests than to the labor movement. The poll suggests
Even President Reagan went so far as to assert that labor leaders were out of touch with the views of their members. The Solidarity Day turnout has put an end to this speculation. Indeed, it demonstrated that union members are closing ranks behind their leadership in the face of the most significant challenge to social justice since
the 1920s.
Organized labor put its reputation on the line when in the early summer Lane Kirkland issued a call for Solidarity Day.
simism. Only one in eight Americans, the poll indicates, feels that the economy is
getting better.
When the President defeated Jimmy Carter in November and Republicans took control of the Senate and made large gains in the House of Representatives, many commentators began to speak of the possibility of a Republican majority. The Washington Post poll, however, indicates that affiliation with the Republican Party is in decline while identification with
Kirkland’s call came at a time the Democratic Party is increa-
when the President was at the height of his popularity and when the Reagan budget proposals enjoyed widespread pop-
sing. The most significant erosion in support for the President’s policies has come from elderly Americans who are
truth, the President has begun to realize that the reduction in taxes which he has called for will not result in greatly increased productivity. He has also begun to sense that the business community has little confidence in the Reagan formula for economic recovery. The tide of public opinion has indeed begun to shift. Not so much against Reagan, the man, who remains an affable and popular figure, but against the policies which are emerging from his administration. As Ronald Reagan plans his future policies he does so with the knowledge that his base of support and his mandate for change are rapidly evaporating.
Norman Hill is President of A. Philip Randolph Institute,