f
YWCA project chooses Clinton
PORTLAND
(
&
Voi. S No. 48.
OBSERVER
Portland, Oregon
Thwaday, October 23, 1975
I Or per copy
Ms. Rita K. Clinton will be the new
director of the YWCA Women's Priaon
Project. Mrs. Dorothea Hughes, YWCA
president, and Ms. Jean Triako, execu
live director of the Portland YWCA
announced this week.
Ms. Clinton worked for the Metro
politan Human Relations Commission, as
a Human Relations Representative, for
two years. During this time she was on
loan one quarter time, to the State of
Oregon Department of Corrections as a
consultant in Human Relations Training.
She wrote and implemented a training
program tor all Department personnel.
For the past five years she has been a
volunteer teacher of Black Studies at
the Oregon State Penitentiary and has
helped establish programs for Black
inmates. In 1971. she became volunteer
coordinator of Minority Programs at the
Oregon State Penitentiary and since
then has been working with the admini
stration in helping to utilize community
resources in placing inmates back into
the community.
The Women’s Prison Project has been
in operation since July 1st, 1973 and is
located at the Downtown YWCA The
Project provides vrr-jail services and a
residence program for women coming
out of jail.
,The purpose of the in-jail program is
to alleviate tension, to introduce in
terests which women can continue, and
to establish communications between
the Project staff and those who may
need project services once they are
released. In jail services include special
interest classes and counseling by
Project staff.
The purpose of the residence program
is to provide supportive social services
to a woman released from jail to help
her become self sufficient and self-
supporting so she can successfully
re-enter the community. The residence
program offers a place to live, a weekly
allowance, assistance with medical and
social needs, counseling and help in
finding a job or enrollin in an educa
tional or training program.
The program has gained recent no
toriety because of the charge of racism
filed by its social worker, Dorothy
Baker, against the previous director and
the administration and board of the
YWCA.
RITA K. CLINTON
OIC founder discusses manpower
D e a o a a tra to ra march
la
fa-oat ol
bechi» troni across the street.
Roosevelt demonstration seeks justice
Dr. Leon H. Sullivan, National Direc
tor of the Opportunities Industrializa
tion Centers of America, Incorporated
(IOCI. will speak on “Unity in Man
power Planning" on October 24th.
Dr. Sullivan is nationally known for
his contribution to manpower training
and development.
OIC was founded by Dr. Sullivan in
1964 in Philadelphia to sponsor training
and retraining on a massive scale. OIC,
which was originally funded entirely by
private donations, later sought and
received federal funding. Considered as
probably the most successful program
training the "hard core" unemployables
for existing jobs, OIC is now operating
over 100 centers in the United Slates,
including Portland, and also is estab
lished in Nigeria. Ghana. Ethiopia and
Kenya. OIC has trained over 200,000
individuals.
Investment Association, which has built
a million dollar garden apartment com
plex and a SI.7 million dollar shopping
center, Progress Plaza, the largest
shopping center built, owned and
operated by Black people.
He also founded Progress Aerospace
Enterprises, Incorporated, a large in
dustrial development to involve Blacks
in the aerospace industry. The first
Black owned industrial complex in
Delaware Valley is Progress Industrial
br Koeemsrv Allen
The air filled with tension as fifty
Black persons and a scattering of white
supporters lined up on the sidewalk
directly in front of Roosevelt high
school in North Portland
Numerous
plain clothes and uniformed Portland
policemen circulated on foot and in cars
throughout the area Across the street,
a large number of white youth gathered
as though prepared for a confrontation.
Photographers and ne w sreporters,
armed with camera and |»en, ,M*sitioned
themselves between the two groups in
preparation to record the action. No
confrontation occurred.
Friday. October 17th, the Black
Justice Committee (BJC) had called a
peaceful demonstration, as they put it,
“To show community support and con
cern for Black Roosevelt high school
students who are being harassed and
molested by white students, parents
and school personnel and thereby
denied the opportunity to receive a
quality education."
David Wienecke. Roosevelt principal
staled to newsmen that the situation at
Roosevelt was well under control and
the demonstration would only inflame
the situation and cause additional prob
lems
Black Justice Committee Chair
person. Baruti Artharee, explained that
his group had been approached by Black
Roosevelt high school parents in Sep
lember According to the BJC, parents
were denied meetings with the Roose
velt high school principal and asked
HJCs assistance in planning a course of
action to get their children reinstated in
school and to obtain protection for Black
students attending Roosevelt who were
being verbally and physically harassed
daily.
The problem at Roosevelt high school
began on September 9th of this year
when a fight ensued between a white
student and a Black student and
resulted in a scuffle involving eighty
five students.
Four Black students.
Randall luigrone, Kelvyn Johnson, Na
thaniel Black and Marshall Goss were
arrested and expelled.
The white
student who precipitated the fight, a
recent transfer from Texas, was ex
pelled His name was not released.
Since that incident. Black Roosevelt
high school parents claim that verbal
harassment and physical abuse from
whites has made them fear for the
safety of their children. "The situation
became so bad," one disturbed parent
remarked, "that on September 30th
several of the Black students decided to
go home for their own security after the
school administration could not guaran
tee their safety."
"It's like this."
another parent told the crowd, "the kids
know that if something happened to a
white student the administration would
be on their side, but if something
happened to them, they would receive
no support. The Black student would
be accused of causing the problem."
At the demonstration BJC chairman.
Artharee. explained to the crowd that
parents had met with the Roosevelt
high school administration and that the
BJC and other community organizations
had met with and ..cntacted Dr. Blan
chard and his assistant Dr. Hartzog. but
no positive action had been taken to
alleviate the problems.
"The Black
Justice Committee has notified Portland
Police Chief Baker, Mayor Goldschmidt
and Governor Straub of the Roosevelt
high school situation." Artharee said
As the demonstration ended. Black
students were escorted by demonstra
tors to the bus stop and the crowd of
white youth slowly dispursed.
BJC
chairman Artharee explained. “Our rea
sons for holding this demonstration was
not to start trouble. We simply wanted
to show community support for these
students who are not being allowed the
opportunity to receive a quality educa
tion This problem has gone on for too
long. We hope this demonstration will
(Please turn to p. 8 col. 3)
Seattle dejay
joins KQIV
Seattle's top radio jazz personality,
Jimmy Pipkin, recently resigned his
position at Seattle's KYAC Radio to join
Roy Jay Enterprises, which operates
the nation's largest Quadraphonic Soul
and Jazz station
KQIV FM in Port
land.
Pipkin said that he was delighted
with the new position of Jazz Coordina
tor and assistant Program Director,
because he feels the growth of the
100,000 watt station is so unlimited.
The thirty year old Pipkin has been
recognized as the most popular Radio
Jazz Personality pn the West Coast, and
comes to his new position with several
years of specialized experience behind
him.
Roy Jay. owner, says the appoint
ment will enhance KQIV’s program
ming, especially in the Jazz and Mellow
music aspects. Jay says that KQ4's
entire musical concept will soon be
changed to reach all categories of
listeners in all ages and parts of the
Northwest, specializing in The Best of
Soul and Jazz.
Dr. Sullivan was the 1971 recipient of
the NAACP's Spingarn Award.
He
received the United States Civil Service
Award in 1970; the Freedom Founda
tion American Exemplar Medal in 1969;
the Russ worm Award of the National
Newspaper Publisher's Association in
1963; as well as many other honors. He
is the holder of the Boy Scouts of
America Silver Beaver and Silver Buf
falo Awards.
He was educated at West Virginia
State College, Union Theological Semi-
Park.
Dr. Sullivan is founder and chairman
of the board of the National Progress
Association for Economic Development,
an organization that is doing economic
development planning, shopping center
development, providing technical assis
tance to minority businesses, setting up
and establishing Entrepreneurs! De
velopment Training Centers and urban
planning in forty cities.
He serves on the boards of General
Motors Corporation, Com m ittee for
Economic Development, Girard Trust
Bank of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Sav
ings Fund Society, Boy Scouts of
America and United Way of America.
The pastor of Zion Baptist Church in
Philadelphia, Dr. Sullivan has been the
recipient of many awards and honorary
degrees.
nary and Columbia University.
He holds honorary degrees from
Lincoln University, Villanova Univer
sity, Swarthmore College. Temple Uni
versity, Princeton University, Yale Uni
versity, Dartmouth College, Virginia
Union University and others.
October has been designated OIC
month, and Dr. Sullivan is touring the
Northwest to solidify OICs relation
ships with local government, businesses
and industry, according to Elton Jolly.
National Executive Director of OIC.
“OIC is a multi-ethnic organization
which is in the business of providing
training, counseling and job placement
to the unemployed and underemployed.
Over 130 operating training units are
dependent on local government through
CETA, the Comprehensive Employment
and Training Act, for their stability and
continuance," Jolly said.
Dr. Sullivan will speak to a luncheon’
meeting at the Sheraton Hotel (Lloyd
Center) at 12:00 noon, sponsored by
POIC and the Pacific Power and Light
Company John Y. Lansing of PP&L is
Honorary Chairman and Eric Fuller of
Equitable Savings and Loan is coordi
nator. The Master of Ceremonies will
be Dr. Amo DeBernardis. President of
Portland Community College.
Urban League Forum features
wom en’s careers
The Urban League of Portland will
sponsor its first annual Women's Forum
on November 7th. 1975.
The forum, titled "Innovative Dia
logue on Careers For Women," will
focus on women interested in manage
ment careers as well as those who are
already involved in management. Posi
tion responsibility, attitudes of male
co-workers and advancement potential
will be discussed. The program will be
aimed at both men and women. Govern
mental and corporate management will
be represented and discussed.
Mary Miller. National Urban League
Education Director for the Wester«
Region, will be the guest speaker. Ms.
Miller, visiting Portland from Washing
ton. D.C., is responsible for educational
programs in California. Oregon, Wash
ington. Colorado. Arizona. Utah. Texas
and Oklahoma.
Senator Better Roberts. State Om
budsman Gladys McCoy. Xerox execu
tive Robert Racouillat, First National
Bank Vice President Paul Cook, and
Louisana Pacific Assistant Export Sales
Manager Olive Barton will participate
on the panel.
Betty Schedeen and Angie Davis are
co-chairpersons for the forum, which
will be held at Buckley Center. Univer
sity of Portland at 6:30 p.m.
A no host cocktail party will follow
the forum. The public is invited. There
is no charge for admission.
winters are like Portland's. It rains a lot.
Because of this lack of heat, people
wear layers and layers of clothing.
People have a small fire they cook over
in their homes and sometimes a little
kerosene stove. There are no fireplaces
since wood is very scarce. In fact the
government has been carrying out a
reforestration program for some years.
It will be many years yet before the
trees can be harvested. Israelis can
thank the Romans for this, as history
tells us when they occupied the country
they cut down most of the trees.
"One thing both Arabs and Jews may
share in the Haifa area is the food
stuffs. Besides the exotic fruits, such as
pomegranates, guavas, papayas, fine
oranges and grapefruit, there is plenty
of poultry available at the open market
stalls similar to our farmer's market.
Everything is bought fresh daily, as few
have refrigeration.
Beef is mostly
imported and pork is a 'no-no' for both
Jews and Moslems.
But, goats and
sheep are in abundance. It might seem
like one might be able to stretch a
dollar but this is not the rase. Inflation
is rampant. The rate when I left was
eight Israel pounds for one American
dollar It might sound enticing, but
inflation takes care of that. I'ts not a
cheap country to live in and wages are
not comparable to what we have here.
Economic necessity forces as many as
possible in the family to work."
Tourists travelling to Israel complain
about feeling unwelcome and the tense
ness of the people.
Sister Mary K
remarked about this. "It's understand
able if you consider Israel is a small
country surrounded on the one side by
water and three sides by countries with
which she has no contact, officially. Her
borders are closed. One can't send mail
across or telephone. The only contact is
by radio or television.
They feel
surrounded by enemies that any mo
ment may attack, so they listen con
stantly to the broadcast. Even on the
buses, it's not a questions whether you
want to listen to the news They turn it
up so everyone is forced to listen.
Everywhere there are soldiers packing
rifles and it's compulsory for all Jewish
women to serve eighteen months in the
Army. Arab women do not serve in the
(Please turn to page 10 col. 3)
MARY M ILL E R
Former Portland civil rights worker shares Israel experience
by Martha Anderson
Sister Mary K. Rollin, a nun of the
Madonna Apostalic Order, whom Port
landers will remember as community
relations counselor for fourteen years at
the Stella Maris House, has returned
after three years of service in Haifa as
secretary to Greek Archbishop Rya of
Galilee. He is the one Bishop in all
Israel whose diocese is entirely com
posed of local people.
These are
Christian Arabs whose families date
back to the time of Christ. There are
about 40,000 of these people.
Since
Sister Mary K's duties also entailed
guiding tourists about the city she had
the opportunity to see and learn first
hand the complex problems currently
affecting this tense, nervous area of the
world.
“I was often reminded in Israel of
some of the same things that were
enacted in the past during my years in
Portland. I learned prejudice is the
same everywhere in the world. If one
listens all you have to do is change the
word Black to Arab. Change the name,
yet all the prejudice and misconceptions
are the same. If we go further bark we
find it pracised by the Romans against
the Egyptians and Jews. Now. it's all
being re enacted. The only difference
is the time."
When asked what
segment of society received the most
discrimination. Sister Mary K. said:
"The total population at this time is a
little less than three million in Israel. A
One half are Arab, the other half are
Jews including a few hundred Black
Jews. The latter are Morrocan Jews, a
most interesting group. These people
are very Black and they receive intense
discrimination.
All the most menial
labor is performed by them."
"The thing that must he remembered
is that the Arabs who live there have
family roots that go bark for hundreds
of years. When the Jews first came
they bought property and lived side by
side by side peaceably with the Arabs.
But, once Israel became a country
things changed and the government
forcibly took away Arab land. Deep
resentment ensued and continues to
haunt the land. It's ironic. As long as
the Arabs and the Jews fought the
Turks and the British remained friends;
as soon as they won, they became
enemies."
"The hope of the country for peace
seems to be in the young people who
have been born and raised there. They,
for some reason, are much more open to
Arab rights and justice due the Arabs
than some of their parents. So. there's
a growing movement among young
Israelis to right some of the wrongs
now prevalent."
"1 think we have to remember Israel
suffers from long historical difficulties
It's an extremely young country having
been formed in 1948. Many things are
still in a pioneer stage. The govern
ment right now seems to be concerned
with the immediate moment and not
realv preparing so much for the future.
Their use of land is an example. Their
use of the land is severe. They take
three crops a year out of the land,
which is very hard on it. In the future
the land will be worn out. It seems this
abuse may, in the future, cause them to
regret such overproduction. Right now
everything is just for the moment."
What about housing in complex so
ciety? "It's extremely difficult. For the
Jews, there's a great move to build
many apartment houses. Young people
are sometimes not able to marry for
two or three years because they cannot
find apartments. To rent a room from a
family is impossible.
Families are
crowded together The apartments are
small. People buy them differently than
we do here, and they limit the size of
their families because of their lack of
space. The situation for the Arabs is
most discouraging. They are confined
to certain areas, most or less, within the
city. Only by some chance - if they
have a good job. which is unusual
re
they moved out of these ghettos. I've
seen ten to fifteen people in one room.
What we would consider a home for one
family must be shared by several
families in Haifa.
“No, none are modern," Sister Mary
K. says with a sad smile. "There's no
modern conveniences and I’ve never
been so cold in all my life as I have
during the winter in Israel.
In
Jerusalem the new buildings going up
will have central heating, but most of
the old buildings are made of stone.
There's plenty of that. True, it keeps
things cool in summer, but it also does
the same during the winter. Galilee