Jim Cooper's Orange County; Those People

One dictionary defines 'prejudice' as an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual or group or a race without just ground. But if I discriminate and making a difference in treatment or favor on a basis other than individual metrit. Unfortunately both prejudice and discrimination exist with a negative result in Orange County. But there are a lot of people who are doing something about it. I'm Jim Cooper and I looked into it today. (Music) (Music) February is Black History Month honoring the legacy of the nation's black people. It's

also Luack month, the honoring of all Hispanic people by the League of United Latin American Citizens. In recognition of both of these events, we're focusing today on prejudice and discrimination and community alike and the growing positive efforts to fight against it. Prejudice and discrimination have many forms. Prejudice is an attitude but discrimination is an action. Too often they go together and innocent people are always hurt. Believe that the kind of thinking that says "we don't want anything to do with those people." There are more laws now than ever before against discrimination by those governing affirmative action or housing. But still in Orange County last year. There were fourteen hundred twenty two housing discrimination cases reported to the local Fair Housing Council. Those people who were the victims in this case ranged from the handicapped and members of minority races to children, seniors, women and single parents and the poor. Newly formed, Anti-Defamation League in Orange County has been very effective TV messages that say it all very well. Now let's take a look at them.

If you're one of those people who judges other people on the basis of their race, their religion or their ethnic group, I'd like to talk to you because you know I've been fair to people when you do that. But you know something else you're not being fair to yourself either. Look at this way. When you sit down and figure how many terrific people you've met in your life time, it usually turns out to be not that many. And when you figure out how many people you know you can really count on probably turns out to be even less than that. So how can you afford to rule people out for something as irrelevant as what color they are or what religion they practice or where their grandparents happen to come from. As far as I'm concerned, that kind of prejudice isn't unjust immoral. When you get right down to it it's not to smart. Prejudice is something America can do without. Can you imagine what the American flag would look like had no red and blue in it and no white in it? it wouldn't look like an American flag at all would it?

Well the American people are a lot of different colors. Just like the American flag. So if you took away the red ones or black ones the ones the white ones around there wouldn't be any America left. And then where would you be? Prejudice is something America can do without. American talk like If you are a real American, you would not even care. For some people here believe that everyone should talk and think the same we should not be living in the same place. A man called Adolf Hitler says this the same way. Prejudice is something America can do without. I think those are great messages. And they put a little humor into that. That shows how really ridiculous it is to have the prejudice that often leads to the discrimination. Now let's

meet our guests. President of the Orange County chapter as Mylan Puryear, executive president. Of the Urban League which opened last February. He worked for forty two years as a volunteer and professional with the Urban League. He previously served as an education administrator at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He also served as an educational administrator for an Indonesian technical education program conducted by the Tuskegee Institute Alabama executive director of Urban League. Steve Ableman is the executive director of the Orange County chapter of the Anti-Defamation League and a Brit which also opened last year in the tourney and served in Vietnam as a Navy flight officer who previously served as a legislative aide to elected representatives in Washington in Sacramento. He's commanded a local post of the war veterans. Summer Rodriguez is the chair of the Orange County Human Relations Commission created in 1971 by the Board of Supervisors. She's been a vice chair and has served in all the committees. She helped organize a recent police community symposium in Orange County to reduce racial strife and promote better police community relations. She's the director of student affairs at

Fullerton College. Natric Odinez is the Administrative Order of the postal service for the Sequoia district the U.S. Postal Service. He's also chairman of the board of the National Black Foundation and has been national past president. You've been active in community affairs and there's been a concern for the past thirty seven years since his return from World War 2. He is now president of the Santiago Community College Board. You've seen these excellent I think excellent. Props that we got from the airport the kind of a comic twist and how illogical and absurd, grossly absurd, that this kind of prejudice is. You find the effect of getting some kind of feedback on the effectiveness of this kind of message in education? - Yeah, very effective. Basically what you said is true. - There's a comic aspect to it. - Yes, it's a laughing matter when you look at the fact that you are trying to exclude the vast majority of the people if you were going to exclude on the basis of race, religion and sex and all the other

discriminating status symbols that people seem to use. It's really a laughing matter. And the part that is no laughing matter when I get to the Alamo of the action of discrimination that looks a little on the pyre that will look at in a little while or two differently because then it's illogical reasons. Then it's anything but a laughing matter and sometimes very, very sad, serious business and I think we all here have some degree of contact in trying to maintain some sort of sanity. - This is an interesting group because each of you have a different perspective have a different role to play in the business of the ongoing battle after day year after year. Speaking out of being a voice against prejudice and discrimination. I think that if I would you I would Human Relations Commission the apparent body of an umbrella group. That has purview over it, tell us about... - Well, the commission was established to address the areas of discrimination and prejudicial concerns and acts. And our goal is not only to eliminate it which I think

obviously all of us here realize that it is a task and it's an ongoing task but we're also to live in a group tensions and hostilities within the county. We cover areas of housing police community relations, education and health and employment. So putting that to the compass of the entire county and all segments of the county it's not in their interest one population group. But we're dealing with all areas of sex, racial, religious children, and it goes on and on to include all our community in a way... - That have many forms of that in this that I want to discriminate against them group by leaving them out because we talk about housing for example who are. The victim is against can be single parents. They can be people who have children or single parent. - That's correct. And disabled minorities. - We did a program here in which the minority that and I had my consciousness raised about it by all the subtle things that we thought of people for example and discriminate. Tell us about Urban League. I should tell our viewers that both the Urban League and World well

are new to Orange County unlike the Human Relations Commission or Lulac. You are a newcomer to and not in the sense that you're new or new chapters here although you are. You come from organizations with a long long history. So what have you done in your year here, Marlin? - That's an interesting comment Jim. I would like the use a second to two of my time to indicate that the urban group is 72 years old. And Hobbit to 71 years to get to Orange County that made it didn't make it and that that group called Black America does have its peculiar problems unlike other minority group because of all of the problems other groups have, the black group is color. And all of the stigma growing out of slavery and the fact that laws were

in fact passed saying what they could and could not do. No other group, in this country, has been so designated. Nothing happened. You know it counted. That was not happening in the rest of the country. According to the study that was done to prepare the open pried open of the British. According to the study based on information from Orange County records and California records, The minority's citizens in this county, Hispanic, Asian and others spend more money and income for housing than the rest of the citizens. Their education to the point in the bigger percentage of their income. The development of the burdens to get a roof over their head.

Their educational attainment is lower now when the education of the payment is lower it would means your job prospects are lower. If your job prospects are lower it means your income will be lower and you will be limited in where you will live and where you will live, those people think they have more to say about what you will pay for what you get if the circle goes around. During the year whatever high hopes we had for making rapid changes did not occur To me, I was looking at those words, prejudice, discrimination. All of those. It always comes back to me that. one of our problems over the years is trying to get people to understand that these are words that are in your mind. To most people, they don't

want to believe they're prejudice and nobody wants to believe they're discriminating. But if I feel it, I feel it. The fact that. It's difficult to approach someone. We have had one hard time. Meeting employment goals, and blacks in spite of what you do. In spite of programs you have all you have. Something about that black minority who wants to come and sit down and talk to me because as of course something because... - You're saying you're being there right after being there the big flood and education is a plus. You've been very patient and an old friend, and I know you've been fighting the good fight for how many years since you came back from World War 2? We're 42 years, 45 years at the battle. What about the battle? Where are we now. What of the elect doing about it and what should be done.

- Well, we're just mentioned previously we have a long history with the South and the problem goes up and down like peaks and valleys when there are reports we have. efforts that have been turned on for years, years and years. The thing that we have put up might be a little bit unique to the black situation that we have and then to moons of people coming in from Mexico or the countries to the south. - You mean those who come undocumented and volunteer who have come up as integrated... - And I suppose that in all the years that I've been in the I have seen a marked and concrete feeling because of this misunderstanding. Never in the last group of people particularly the central area of worn down the sand and foot when you have the large influx. Of Hispanics illegal primarily people that don't understand, people that fear

without really understanding and of course the problem that come people with low income, into the school who do not fit into the social economic level...- Have a have a language problem. - And that raises the feeling that given that we have to face and fight on and on year after year and sometimes you wonder where it's going to all end up because I've never seen it in 42 to 45 years of them fighting the fight for better understanding. Chance for equal opportunity, I think that's all you've ever been saying. Equal opportunity ia a chance for them. For him I say them I mean young Hispanic people who make it to get to the rock and that's all anyone wants to do. Do you feel better about it now this is 1983 had it's not 1950 anymore, 1940. Are we getting there any better? It cannot be answered by a simplistic answer because of the complex situation again we deal with people and yes, elements of the Hispanic

world, changes have come about. Those changes are evident of the number of people that have entered the mainstream of American life which everybody - Whatever that is, getting a piece of the rock - Whatever it is. getting the piece of the rock. But yet we have the delusion of young people that are disenchanted that have, and let's face it, they've come from an agrarian type of background that the low income countries have. - Yes. - They have to fit into a society that is quite different to what they're used to. That they want to come into this society of ours. How can we let children be in the same school they are economically... - Saying we don't want to be around those people whoever holds whoever we want to put the label of those people. -Absolutely, Jim. And those are the real things that are made in the community. - One of the biggest things we lacked planning to do is combat that. -Well, there's many ways to

-What's the biggest thing right now? - Jim, Primarily it seems that they just can't get people into the main vision for which a very important social economic. Economically we have to get a bill in there although it was mentioned a little while ago but for example the blight has a high percentage of income that goes into housing. Yes but Hispanic throughout that we country represent around a 65 billion a columnist tax 55 billion to 70 billion dollar market in this country so it is a big market. We have the battle to fight. Economically, let it be a force in the cornerstone. -The whole community... -The whole community on both sides, how can we assure middle white America that the greatness of this country has been an understanding of

diversity of the dream. - Absolutely. And Orange County has remarkable diversity. It's an enrichment to the county. Not a liability but an asset. - I think that we're going through is referring to that the Hispanic population as many of our ethnic minority populations have such a wealth of their assets and many times they're not, they're not perceived as a but they seem more as a problem. I think the Commission in our realm has been able to address this by some of the educational programs that we can provide them into through our police community relations area. And developing better communication with them. Will the different diverse populations that they serve throughout the county. We've had cultural training with not only the sheriff's departments but many of the police departments in the county is interested in that we want in reference to many times a police department may have a conflict with a particular population and the attitudes are formed through attitudes or run ins, and to address that... - Preconceived ideals... - Preconceived ideals and

- People are going to work... - And therefore generalize it applies to all... - And we're going into that neighborhood. Well we know what those needs are we will deal with them that way which is the very thing we're talking about. - So the commission have dealt with address the problem by developing ethnic and cultural training seminars for the law enforcement areas, bringing together in a facilitation mode, the community who has a problem or perceive a problem with the police departments. Some other areas and for example you mentioned the disabled before. Desensitize and heighten the awareness of the police departments towards the local population. We develop video tapes on training on how to deal with disability and sensitize and police departments in that realm. - Southeast Asians - South East Asians, exactly. There's another video tape that we developed, and we develop cultural programs in the area of employment. We have developed. A primitive action brochures that are addressed to the small and medium businesses who do not have personnel to address training

and changing of modes within their companies. On the porch. Some information came out recently indicating that the Orange County. People in Sacramento. Is the most conservative group. In Sacramento. When we look at that. We want to say you know what can we ask that group to do to help us. Now. I don't have any problem saying I want that group to help us in education job for years. None of them know. For years. California provided practically free education. Public education. - Oh I see... - From the cradle through Ph.D. We are in the midst now of trying to increase the number of minorities. In the junior college the senior colleges and the graduate schools. At the very time, we're trying to do that, - Up goes the price

- Up goes the price or maybe even more...you cannot do that. And we accue our objective. We cannot increase enrollment in the computer sciences and math and physics and chemistry - I won't argue with you. - You can get all of these high prices. You cannot raise the price on January 15th of tuition, then February 1st, there's no way to get the extra money you see. And you cannot do it. That's what I want those legislators who got their education to not be. Understand that. And now I got mine for nothing. We're going to another table. Let's see what we can do. Now if it's me, horse races If it means the lottery, lets do it, because the people are going to do it anyway. ...Suggested having a nickel extra on a cigarette pack - I don't care where we get it. Frankly, I don't care. - Let's take a look at a chart that we have

because one thing I like about the ADL that we're going to show you that it's to get people a theme that I felt very strongly it's not enough to be against prejudice or against discrimination. You should do something about it and this is one of the things that you can fight back when you've been the victim of religious ritual harassment of your home or place of worship has been vandalized. If you receive that anti-semitic or racist literature, if you're facing discrimination in employment education or housing call the Anti-Defamation League in that phone number is 9 7 3 4 7 3 3. I like that message. It's a good thing and I'm just running in a new organization. How well you can coalesce even the Jewish community. And get them to know that you're here let alone all of the man who is in the I think you find that like any other product. Let's face it, our service is a product If they find that that our service is good they fight it we perform a positive function in the community. They tell their friends and their friends tell of a friend and through word of mouth. Our phone is

busy 24 hours a day seven days a week. I like to have people that take another look at another chart that we've had designed because it's interesting for people who have not had the access to the 1980 census report that the Orange County pie one of the Orange County. Where 78 percent. 78.2 percent of the Orange County population of 2 million is white. 1.3 percent black 4.9 percent are American Indian Asian and that would include the Southeast Asian refugees and 14.8 percent it's Hispanic. Probably the Hispanic is higher than that because because of the influx of talk about many undocumented workers coming across but even taking that. This county had an extraordinary racial diversity if we were a county in the middle of Iowa or South Dakota, Wisconsin and everybody with that that white part of the thing would look like about ninety nine point six. So we have the diversity why don't we enjoy more of the richness that this diversity brings to it and confers upon us by the diversity. I just got back from a trip

to Japan. Everybody in Japan. The cops are all Japan, the teachers are Japanese, the people in the bank, they're all Japanese. How nice it is. The airlines that everybody homemaker that we have the better for them. I like to take a look at another one another great one. It's such a great AVI I want because it has been dynamite. I'd like to have our viewers hear another one of these little things. Remember the guy on JR? The bad guys. You gotta see this one. Now let's take time out to see just a few more of these affected we're going to start with the bad guy Larry Hagman, some big stars and plaid and some... -...The bad guy on television it's entertaining and no one really gets hurt by it. But sometimes without ever being aware of it we become the bad guys in real life. It happens every time we start to misjudge a person because they're of a different race or heritage or religious belief. And when we do that unlike television people do get hurt. When I heard that. Help fight prejudice where you find it.

And help the good guys win. Prejudice is something America can do without. Hello I'm Linda Lavin. I want to ask you something, and you don't have to answer out loud, so be honest. Do you ever agree with any of the unflattering things you hear about different races, religion ethnic group? Or have you ever judged people unfairly because of the group they belong to? Think about it. And then answer just one more question for me. What kind of world will it be If everybody answers the way you have? Only part of me is black. Part is red Jewish, part Catholic, part Buddhist. I am Swedish. This is America, your level of brotherly love. If you're full of brotherly hate, this is what

America will become. Prejudice is something America can live without. - A couple of minutes left. I'd like to have you do a wish for me. What is your wish for better understand against this battle and prejudice and discrimination. When Orange County no longer discriminates the poor, the Ethnic groups and minorities but we start to address some of them some positive ways where we have opportunities that we all have accessibility to a positive way of life. So I'm looking for your help too. Your help too. Hector, let's hear your wish. - My wish were very simple understanding. Understanding the greatness of what America is. Understanding the contributions made by all of us. Anglos, Mexicans, blacks, ext. If this is understood, fears will disappear very quickly. This is the greatest place to live in the world.

But poor people need the help of people who have, my wish is the people who have share With those who don't. Very quickly here with where we started talking about humans dignities In this same life that we now have to talk about this criminals and prejudice and I swear for numbers if you want to get involved the first phone number Orange County Human Relations Commission you can do something about it. Just call it number. Write it down 8 3 4 4 7 9 6, that's 8 3 4 4 7 9 6. Call him up and see what you can do to help. Anti Defamation League call this number 9 7 3 4 7 3 3 that's 9 7 3 4 7 3 3. Urban League 5 5 8 7 9 9 6 5 5 8 7 9 9 6. Lulac 7 0 0 4 4 4 7 7 0 0 4 4 4 The time is up now and it's a great discussion, you've been a really potentially very strong group and it's going to be potentially dynamite.

Thank you very much. It's a job that belongs to all of us we want to be in society. But this time I'll be in Washington D.C. with your unfounded congressman talking about the tremendous deadlock over the federal budget. I'm Jim Cooper thanks for being with us. (Music) (Music) (Music) (Music) (Music) (Music) (Music)