I '
Dissatisfied h o m eo w n er sues PDC, HUD
Mrs. Whitlow received a
grant in 1973 to rehabilitate
her Albina home, following
two years of application und
delay. Mrs. Whitlow was not
satisifed with the work done
by Dwight Morris, owner of
Morris Construction Com
puny, and which was judged
inadequate by several ob
servers. Mrs. Whitlow com
plained to PDC staff mem
bers and to the local HUD
office but received no assis
tance. Mrs. Whitlow slated
that she was told by a staff
Mr». Annie Whitlow, who
was the recipient of a
housing rehabilitation grant
from the Portland Develop
meiit Commission I funded by
the II. S. Department of
Housing and Urban Affairs),
has obtained permission to
file a class action suit In the
United States District Court.
The suit charges PDC and its
employee Kay Wilson, HUD.
the Metropolitan Human Ke
lations Commission, and con
tractor Dwight Morris with
racial discrimination.
member of PDC that if she
di<l not sign I he forms so the
contractor could be paid, the
contractor might sue and
take her home.
Following a story and pic
lures of the work in the
Observer und the interceding
of the Albina Contractors
Association, M orris went
bark to the home and made
some repuirs to his work.
However, Mrs. Whitlow said
the repairs he did were not
acceptable
Further efforts
with PD( and HUD proved
futile
The suit was filed on be
half of all Black, low income,
elderly and widows who
were recipients or prosper
live recipients of HUD re
habilitatiori loans or grants
and Blacks who were poten
tial building trade employees
but who were illegally dis
criminated against by white
contractors holding PDC
contracts.
Mrs. Whitlow
charges that PDC, III D and
the Human Relations Com
mission held common and
parallel attitudes of discrimi
nation in that each was ex
tremely negligent and tardy
in processing com plaints.
She charges that although
they knew of discrimination
and unconstitutional acts of
others and ol each other,
they delayed the complaint
procedures so long that her
constitutional rights were
not guaranteed.
The suit also charges racial
discrimination in the alloca
lion of construction work to
Black workers.
Mrs. Whitlow asks that
the court enjoin the defen
dants' from maintaining a
policy, practice, custom or
usage that denies her and
others of her class equal
opportunity in grants and
rehabilitation programs. She
also asks for monetary relief
for herself and others who
have been injured by the
defendants.
District Court Judge Burns
appointed atto rn ey s Sam
Sewol and David Wiener to
represent Mrs. W hitlow
Giant spruce trees silhouetted against the evening sky bring a p. ireful missl to the Oregon
Coast.
i
Resignation coming
Boost opens A lb in a center
A community drop in
center for persons who want
to Find out ways to finish
their •durations has moved
into new o f f ic e s in t h e Albina
area
3620 N. Vancouver
Avenue.
Persons in te re ste d in
finding out about financial
aid and educational programs
available to help them com
plete high schrarl, college or
vocational training programs
art encouraged to stop by
the BOOST renter or to
phom
I hara M em orv d ire c ts th« C o m m u n ity Jazz Band at th e recent Block P a rty sponsored by th i
•Mbma E xp a n sio n \ r l s fe s t iv a l
The Jazz Band w ill soon b. teat tire d at th e W o r ld s fa n
(P h o to bv Rosem ary M im i
Portland artists visit Expo '74
A troupe of performing
artists from Portland's Blark
community will be leaving
this Friday headed for Expo
'74 World's Fair in Spokane.
Washington The delegation,
representing Portland, will
participate in the
Afro
American Heritage festival
presented by the Afro
American Pavilion, August
9 II. 1974.
O.B. Hill. Coordinator of
the Project and Director of
the Albina Expansion Arts
Festival, a special summer
youth program, believes this
is a significant event in
terms of generating a greater
interest in expanding the
Arts in Albina.
We are
honored that our community
was asked to participate and
will be represented.
Es
pecially at a time when much
effort has been channeled
(Please turn to pg. 4. col. 7)
280 8619
w ee kd a ys.
obtain financial aid. il
needed, and enroll in high
school equivalency programs
or special educational pro
grams set up at all the
state's public colleges and
universities, community col
leges, and many private col
leges and vocational schools.
"A big part of BOOST'S
job IS matching the right
student with the right pro
gram.' said Marshall. "If we
have a student with a
reading handicap, we get him
in the school with the best
reading program
Service» arc free and open to
the public.
BOOST can pick up a stu
BOOST (Bettering Ore
dent at any level.
If he
guns Opportunity for Saving hasn’t completi-d high school,
Ta1- nt I is a federal program high school . • o valency pro
npiratiil by the Stair- Sys
grams are available College
tern of Higher Education to program» are available to
a s s is t
persons who need students who need special
extra financial aid. tutoring, academic help, as well as for
counsr ling or encouragement students prepared for col
to complete their education
lege.
In its seven years of exis
The BOOST offices were
fence, BOOST has helped
previously located on the
more than 3. (MM) persons.
Basically, according to Ken Portland State University
Marshall. BOOST director, campus, but were moved to
the program helps those who Albina in August so they
have special problems lhal would be more accessible to
prevent them from obtaining potential students and their
an education
low income parents.
The new offices are located
persona, minority members.
Model Cities residents, young next door to the Albina
veterans, ex convicts, drop Branch of the Multnomah
outs and others
However. County Library and the
BOOST can also assist higher Tradewell More 4 Less Gro
The office formerly
income persons by referring cerv.
them to program and finan housed the Sickle Cell Ane
nna Foundation, which has
cial aid sources.
BOOST helps participants moved to new facilities.
I ta n g e l d isc u sse s D e tr o it D e c isio n
Congressman Charles It
Rangel (D N Y.I. Chairman of
the Congressional Black Cau
rus. expressed his dismay at
the Supreme Court decision
prohibiting city suburb bus
ing except in specific in
stances. "1 am disappointed
by the Court's ruling that a
child's right to an equal
education stops at the city
line." said Rangel. "I share
Justice Marshall's dissenting
view that this decision marks
a giant step backwards in
our fight for equal justice
under law.
"But the Court did not
close all the doors to inte
gration." Rangel continued.
"Although anti integratiomsts
will try to portray the de
cision as a Constitutional
mandate to deny Blark stu
,n > .
Account
The Telephone Deposit transfers excess money
from checking to your Ben| Franklin savings account
where it can earn 514% interest until you need it
Insured for safety Telephone transfers work
both ways
for deposits or withdrawals
For more information on the
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Franklin
aaviaaa *
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Roban H Maran. Praa • îflO ttlcaa • Phona 248-1234
dents the right to quality
education, I believe we can
in many cases meet the
Court’s requirements and in
stitute busing across city
lines to satisfy the Constitu
tional guarantee of equal
education.
"In numerous cities ringed
by white suburbs. Blark stu
dents are bused to maintain
school segregation.
And
often, officials use housing
and zoning laws to trap
Blacks in poor, ineffective
whools. The phenomenon of
predom inantly Black inner
city schools encircled by
white suburban schools must
end if we are to fulfill the
demands of the Constitution
as stated in Brown vs. Board
of Education twenty years
ago. I believe integration
should be a state concern.
not merely a local one. and
that district lines should not
hinder establishment of in
tegrated. effective schools
"The Court disagrees. But
we must not be discouraged."
Rangel stated.
"We must I
work harder now to meet the
standards set by the ( ourt
R E “JOE" SMITH
and to pursue the Consti
tutionally mandated goal of
integration by other means.
Court allowed busing must
Attorney General.
In an
K.P. “Joe" Smith has an
continue.
In addition, all nounced his candidacy for nouncing his desire to re
citizens concerned almut civil the Democratic nomination ceive the nomination. Smith,
rights and education will to the United States Senate who has long been an ad
need to act together to solve Smith, a former Umatilla mirer of the late Senator
the complex problem of County District Attorney, is Wayne Morse, said he seeks
Blark isolation in our nation's practicing law in Portland.
the "unique privilege of sue
cities.
We simply cannot
Smith challenged Lee »•ceding Senator Wayne
survive as a society if we Johnson in 1972 in a close Morse."
(Phase turn to pg 2. col. 5)
race for the office of State (Please turn to pg. 2. col. 5)
I
Smith pursues Senate
A N EDITORIAL
It r ig h t
As the O bserver goes to press the re sig n a tio n o f the President is im m e n e n t,
a c c o rd in g to sources close to the W h ite House By the tim e this paper hits the
streets it m ig h t be a ll o v e r fo r R ichard N ixon -
or he m ig h t hold on a fe w
m ore hours or a fe w m ore days, h o p in g fo r a m ira c le that co uld save him .
The Black p e o p le o f the n a tio n w ill fe e l no rem orse fo r w e su ffe re d at the
hands o f R ichard N ix o n lo n g b e fo re his c o rru p tio n and his thirst fo r p o w e r
a d d r e ss e s
d e le g a te s
Professor Marjory Brown
b eca m e p u b lic k n o w le d g e .
Wright, Social Work Pro
The N ix o n a d m in is tra tio n is c le a rly the most co rru p t in A m e rica n history, but
gram Coordinator at th»-
b e y o n d th a t it has bee n a sad era fo r Blacks a nd fo r those w ho support
University of Oregon, will
speak at a free La-adcrship
c o n s titu tio n a l g u a ra n te e s a n d e q u a l justice fo r a ll p e o p le
Richard N ixon used
Training Institute August
his o ffic e to w o rk to d e p riv e m in o ritie s and the poor o f th e ir rig h tfu l places in
12th at the Hyatt Regency
A m e ric a n life .
Hotel in Ixzs Angeles. Mrs.
W e w o u ld p re fe r th a t M r. N ix o n stand tria l, fo r surely he w o u ld be fo u n d
Wright will talk on "Moving
g u ilty . We w o u ld p re fe r that a ll the e vid en ce be re v e a le d , that a ll doubts be
from Charismatic to Syste
malic Community Ix-adt-r
la id to rest.
ship."
But p erhaps it Is b e tte r th a t it e nd q u ic k ly so th a t a n e w p re sid e nt can g et on
S p o n so re d by Sigm a
w ith th e n a tio n 's business.
W e can o n ly hope th a t Mr. N ixo n has e n o ug h
Gamma Rho Sorority, the
re
g
a
rd
fo
r
his
co
un
try
th
a
t
he
w .ll ossist in o sm o o th tran sfe r o f g o ve rn m e n t to
Leadership Training InsU
lute will be ojM'n to the
the n ew pre sid e nt.
public and will include sev
R ichard N ix o n w a n te d to m ake history -- he has m ad e history.
eral speakers, workshops,
W e d id not e le ct Mr. N ix o n ; w e d id not p a rtic ip a te in his a d m in is tra tio n ; and
and audieme discussions.
w e a re not sorry to see h im go!
The Institute is a community
service of the national col
legiate and community ser
vice organization, which will
hold its 52nd Anniversary
Houle August 11 17 in Los
Angeles.
Dr. Annie L. Iaiwrence.
Assistant Nursing Education
Coordinator for the State of
m ittee. have committed
measurably from his cour
Richard Celsi. Chairman of
Illinois, will speak on "W hat
themselves to vote for the
ageous
leadership.
What
the Multnomah County
Kind of a Leader Will I Be?
individual selected by the
Democratic Central Com ever efforts are made tt
Other speakers and work
Thursday night vote.
Ac
choose
a
successor
in
the
mittee. announced that the
shop leaders include:
Dr.
cording to Oregon statute,
race
for
the
United
States
Central Committee will meet
Cleo Higgins. Professor of
the State Central Committee
Senate must not only honor
Thursday night, August 8th.
English and French at
will meet to select the can
the memory of Wayne
to select its candidate for the
Bethune Cookman College,
Morse, but must conform to didate to oppose Republican
Democratic
nomination
to
Daytona Beach, Florida;
incumbent Robert Packwood
the principles for which he
the United States Senate.
Educator and Aurora Maga
in the general election in
fought so long and violently."
zine Editor Lillie W ilkes of
Candidates for the nomina November.
In
a
message
to
members
terkeley, California; Ber
of the Central Committee, tion have been invited to
lice Everest. Teacher, and
Announced candidates for
Celsi said "The sudden un speak and to be questioned
VekinK Tollette. Counselor,
the nomination are Attorney
by members of the Central
timely
death
of
Senator
both of the Los Angeles City
R.P. "Joe" Smith, State
Wayne Morse has left a gap Committee, after which a
Schools; Melvina Hurst, an
Senate president Jason Boe.
vote will be taken.
in
Oregon's
political
scene
Administrator for the Leake
State Senator Betty Roberts,
Celsi and Vice Chairperson
that
can
never
be
filled.
and Watts Children's Home
and Speaker of the Oregon
Uaroldine Miller, who will
This loss is especially tragic
in Yonkers. New Y ork;
House of Representatives,
represent Multnomah County
to the Democratic Party,
V erneka Silva. A ssistant
Richard Eyman.
on
the
State
Centr
al
Com
which has benefited im
Principal for Administration
(Please turn to pg. 5. col. 51
Demos choose Senate candidate
A A
xi S
K take
t n le t in A fro -A m e ric a n H eritage
Part II:
by J.M. Gates
(Part 1 discussed the
pression of slavery, the
ruption of slave sales,
the legacy of challenge
courageous reformers.)
op
dis
and
by
The legacy of challenge is
linked with commitment;
tangible and intangible risks
are significant stakes of
Afro American h e rita g e .
Consider the individuals and
institutions with a long time
genuine interest. What is
the assessment of slavery by
them? Does it reveal a "new
Hook" of humanitarian «condi
lions regarding slavery and
th«- consequences of same?
Does the assessment ques
tion the impossible value of
material provisions without a
human Bill of Rights?
The c u rre n t issue of
Freedomway» (the literary
qu arterly ! discredits the
validity of Time on the Cross
and categorizes the authors
as "ignoramuses". Freedom
ways also reports that Ken
neth Clark debated the
authors on the "Today
Show". Other scholarly dis
agreement is also cited.
The Journal of Negro His
tory (October. 19731 includes
a controversial review of The
Slave Community and a
relevant reference to Ken
neth Stamps' earlier con
elusions regarding slavery.
More than a century ago.
attempts were also made to
reveal a "new look". A Mrs.
Eastman wrote a column.
"Aunt Plnllis' Cabin", as the
southern answer to Mrs.
Stowe's Unde Tom's Cabin
Mrs. Stowe provided a docu
mentary addenda in 1853
with her Key to I ncle lom's
Cabin. which used legal
trials, slave codes, etc.
One biography of Harriet
Beecher Stowe cites her
July 9. 1851 letter to Fred
erick Douglass expressing a
request to interview some
one who had actually labored
on a cotton plantation. That
letter for an authentic re
source was written while
she was still working on
the manuscript for I ncle
Tom's Cabin.
The conclusion in Dort
mund's article that "slave
sales considered the con
tinuity of the family or in
dividual maturity" is incon
sistent with the published
statements of the 19th cen
lury.
Because of an un
willingness to return to
slavery, an exodus to Canada
occurred after the enactment
of the Fugitive Slave Ixiw
The Douglass Narrative
describes the anxiety in
Rochester and the difficulties
deciding whether to remain
in Rochester or leave the
United States.
Carter Woodson cites how
the impact of slave insurrec
tion resulted in repression of
the In d e p e n d e n t Black
Church.
Woodson stales
that North Carolina pro-
hibitfd preaching by Ne
groes. and Alabama in 1833
prohibited slaves or free
Negroes from preaching un
less five respectable slave
holders were present and
there was authorization by a
local religious organizatioi
According to Woodson.
Georgia's 1834 requirement
limited audiences of free
Negroes or slaves to seven;
preaching in larger audiences
necessitated a special license.
Whereas the Charleston. S.C.
church of the Reverend
Morris Brown had 3. (MM)
members in 1822, repression
forced him to move north.
Stowe relates the recurring
plight of the Edmonson
family (the father free ami
the mother a slave). Einan
cial intervention by Rev
erend Henry Ward Beecher
and Plymouth Church pre
vented two of the daughters
(Please turn to pg. 2, col. 31