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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 1977)
U n iv e rs ity o f Oregon L ib ra ry Eugene, Oregon 97403 Observer publisher receives Peyton human rights award PORTLAN OBSERVER Valesse T Ne. IS A Thursday, February 8. 1977 lOr per copy Camp Fire expands programs I helma KU m , wed Shelley Lakea i ef the C e *p Fire candy they will be i s-ieth. Job outlook improving The Oregon Bureau of Labor predicts that job seekers will have more work opportunities during 1977. Seven out of ten employers interviewed said they plan to increase their work force by eight per cent during the next six months. The bureau's study was designed to identify employer attitudes and opinions about job applicants. One hundred and forty Portland area employers were contacted. There appears to be a trend toward hiring college trained applicants over (Please turn to page 2 col. 2, A tradition io Portland, the Camp F ire Girl Cand Sale, gets underway on Feb ruary 3rd, with 9,000 girls throughout the Portland area taking part. “Camp Fire is reaching out to new groups of girls," saj's Camp Fire’s Inner City Director, Ruth White, “and I ’m proud of the growth. But it’s the parents of the girls who should be proud. “Without the help of the parents and other concerned adults, these girls would not be able to experience the fun of Camp Fire." The Camp Fire Candy Sale supports the organization’s activities throughout Multnomah and Washington counties. Proceeds from the sale supplement sup port from the United Way and from membership and camp fees. “An excellent thing about the Camp Fire program,” says Ms. W hite, “is that is is very flexible. “W e’re adapting Camp Fire to fit the needs of the kids in our own community. . in our own schools. We’re showing our girls, and their parents, that Camp Fire is for all girls, not just for some girls." As an example of doing things just for the kids, Ms. W hite pointed to a very successful Holloween Party held last fall at Boise School, and a recent weekend Camping T rip to Camp Fire’s Camp (Please turn to p.2 col.4) Alfred Lee Henderson, editor and publisher of the Portland Observer and former pastor of Bethel African Method ist Episcopal Church, is the recipient of tb 1976 Russell A. Peyton Human Relations Award. Vern Pearson, Chair man of the Metropolitan Human Rela tions Commission, announced that the award for outstanding commitment to human services throughout the Portland metropolitan area w it he presented on February 22nd. Henderson came to Portland in 1909, assigned to Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. There he set about making the church’s new motto - “A Servant Church to a Secular Society” - a reality. He established a 4-C child care center for children of low income families, the Bethel Child Development Center; founded BECAP, a state-funded program for juvenile first offenders; founded an ethnic summer school; and brought the church into participation in community issues. One of his most talked-about projects was taking a bus load of young people, many of whom had not been outside of Portland, to a conference in Los Angeles. Henderson established the Portlaad in November of 1970. The r, winner of state and national awards for excellence, soon became known for its hard-hitting editorials seeking jobs and equal opportunity for minorities. It has become a decisive voice in the community - speaking to the goals and aspirations of the Black community and quick to point out injustice. Through his continuing emphasis on minority employment, Henderson is credited with opening opportunities for Blacks. Many Black persons in the Portland area attribute their success in obtaining employment with state and local gov ernment to Henderson. A native of Texas, Henderson was raised in Ardmore, Oklahoma. He receiv ed his B.S. degree from Paul Quinn College; a Bachelor of Divinity from Payne Theological Seminary of Wilber force University; a Masters in Adminis tration from Our Lady of the Lake in Texas, and has an honorary doctorate from Paul Quinn College. Henderson’s community activities have been extensive and varied. He served two terms as Chairman of the Metro politan Area 4-C Council, which coordi- A . L. HEN DER SO N nates federal child care funds for the tri-county area. He was chairman of the Albina Human Resources Center (State of Oregon) advisory committee; Chair man of the Affirmative Action Com mittee of the Multnomah County Demo-' cratic Centeral Committee; Chairman of the Oregon Black History Project. He was appointed by the mayor to serve on the Ad Hoc Committee for Selection of City Commissioners; was a member of the United Way Allocations Committee; a member of the Northeast Quadrant Board for Multnomah County Depart ment of Human Services; was a member of the Jimmy Carter Campaign Steering Committee. Henderson is a member of the Urban League of Portland Board of Directors; a Subscribing Life Member of the NAACP; (Please turn to page 2 col. 2) Babe Wilson goes to trial The trial of James “Babe” Wilson began Tuesday before Circuit Court Judge James Ellis, with an all-white jury. Assistant District Attorney John Ray, head of the county’s career criminal project, dismissed the two Black poten tial jurors. James Heffner and Ms. Jones. The state w ill attempt to prove that Wilson, a former addict but for the past two years a counselor with the state's Comprehensive Options for Drug Abus ers (CODA) Program, was arrested while taking heroin into Rocky Butte Jail while visiting inmates in connection with his employment. According to Deputy Sheriff Carl McDade, an undercover narcotics officer, he was told by an unnamed informant (demonstrated by other testimony to be an inmate at Rocky Butte) that Wilson had brought drugs into the jail to two inmates and that he could “set up” Wilson to bring more drugs so he could be caught. McDade said he refused that offer but did inform corrections officers to let him known when Wilson next arrived at the jail, and to keep him from seeing any inmates until he arrived. McDade testified that about two hours later he received a call from the jail and went there. He had not obtained a search warrant or an arrest warrent because he did not believe a judge would issue a warrant on the word of one informant and no corroborating evidence. He said he walked up to Wilson and asked to speak to him in an adjoining room. On the way to the room Wilson reached into his pocket. McDade grab bed his arm and throat, scuffed with him, then found a balloon of heroin on the floor. Other officers testified that they were involved in the scuffle and saw the object fly through the air from the direction of Wilson’s hands or his mouth. Testimony of James Gredvig. internal investigator at Rocky Butte, who was present during the interview conflicted with that of McDade as did the testimony of McDade's supervisor, Sgt. Fessler. L t. Jaeger, who is in charge of Rocky Butte, testified that he watched McDade re move a vial containing methadone from Wilson’s breast pocket while Wilson was searched facing the officers. But Sgt. Fessler testified that he could not see the search of Wilson’s breast pocket because he was facing the wall, away from the officers. Wilson will testify that he had no drugs on his person and that he went to the jail to see Sam Brown and two other inmates, not the Irving Brown who had reportedly expected the drugs. He w ill testify that (Continued from page 1 col. 6) Television drama leaves varied impressions by Ulysses MarshaB “Roots”, shown on television last week garnered the largest viewing audience in the history of television, with at least 75 per cent of the viewing public watching the final episode Sunday night. The show, based on Alex Haley’s historical novel, traces a Black family from Africa to post Civil W ar America, showing its struggle to survive. Portland viewers were among the vast audience: Mrs. Beatrice MarsbaU, a homemaker, eaid. “I think the acting in Roots was very good. It was informative and educational. I feel it was a good picture to watch but it created mixed emotional feelings among the people who knew little or nothing about the background of their fore- parents. In may opinion, the true story of Roots as portrayed on T V only scratched the surface of the actual true suffering and brutality that the Blacks were forced to endure during slavery and afterward. Roots should have enlightened both Blacks and whites to a certain degree on the character and intellectual capacity of some of our ancestors and their dreams and goals.” L . C. Mickles, who is retired, told the Observer that he felt the presentation will enlighten the younger generation- “I don't know what impact it will have on the American public, but I hope it is for the best.” Mrs. MaUe J she »so. a homemaker, believes Roots was helpful in showing how far Blacks have come, but that we still have a long ways to go. “I ’ts really hard to say what impact it will have on the public.” Mrs. Margret Green, a homemaker, said, “I enjoyed it very much and it gave us all something to think about. The acting was superb; it was entertaining and informative. I don't know if it will be lasting, but it will make us be more understanding of each other." Ms. Winifred Beaker, an executive housekeeper, said. “I thought it was marvelous. I thought it was something all whites should see so they could under stand Blacks better and I was concerned about the effect it might have on young people. I think it will have a tremendous effect and will touch the American conscience." Mrs. Lee W arren, a homemaker, said she was glad the program was broadcast and hopes that it will be shown again. “I think it will have a good effect on the public and bring us closer together." Mrs. Inez Mayberry, a beautician, said she felt there was a lot in the show for people to understand. “I hope it doesn’t cause any bitterness in our younger people. It should bring a better under standing between the races.” Barbara Hines, a director of advertis ing, said, “I t made me want to know more about my own family. I t was a number one movie in my book. I t was very informative and I believe it will affect the white people first.” Father William Curtin, a priest, told the Observer, “I enjoyed it and I learned a lot. I t gave me an insight on slavery that I never had before. I think the impact will be educational for the Amri- can public." Minorities cry 'foul’ in key civil rights case by Bennie Selew and David Osborne by Ulyeee Women are God's gift to earth. They are beautiful, not only on the outside, but on Michelle Yuvienco, an interesting intelligent, and beautiful lady is an example. Michelle is a Cancer. Her favorite activities include dancing, bowling, swimming, tennis, pool, golf, bicycling, listening to music, and writing Poetry. She would like to learn to ski. Michelle is a clerk for an Insurance agency. She would like to become a legal secretary in the near future. She wants a family of two. “The Ideal man for me is one that is considerate of my feelings,” Michelle says. “He must always show true love for me. His personality should be in keeping with my own. We need to share nutual concerns and his understanding should be very good. He must have goals and be concerned about keeping his eyes towards them. He must be hard-working and kind. I appreciate thoughtfulness and gentleness in a man. He must be outgoing and open minded, and most of all I must be his ‘shining star'.” Sbe’s as sweet as a mother's levs.” SAN FR A N C I8C O , CA.. (PNS)-Legal experts say it could be the most import ant civil rights case in 20 years. Black, Chicano and other minority critics say it's a set-up. The case is Bekke v. tbs Regents ef the University ef CaUfarefc |U C |. In a landmark decision last September, the California Supreme Court ruled that the special admissions program for minorities at UC-Davis Medical School was unconsti tutional because it discriminated against whites. Minorities charge that the defendant, UC, never tried to win the case. And now that the University has appealed the decision to the U .8. Supreme Court, these same critics fear that an inadequate defense could scuttle every affirmative action program in the nation. While activist critics are organizing public demonstrations, a coalition includ- ing the United Auto Workers, the Nation al Urban League, the National Confer ence of Black Lawyers and the Mexican- American Legal Defense and Education Fund (M A L D E F ) has filed a brief they hope will persuade the Supreme Court not to take the case. The high court has stayed the Cali fornia court's ruling, indicating it will will probably take the ease. Should it uphold the California decision, says Prof. Ralph Smith of the National Conference of Black Lawyers and the University of Penn sylvania Law School, “It would have a catastrophic effect, wiping out (special admissions) programs all over the count ry” and spilling over the threaten affirm ative action job programs. The case stems from a charge by Allen Bakke, a white who was twice rejected by the UC-Davis Medical School, that his Fourteenth Amendment rights to equal protection under the law had been vio lated. Bakke contends he was rejected solely because the UC-Davis special admissions program, which reserves 18 out of 100 places for miorities, let a less qualified minority student take his place. His suit resulted in a California ruling that a qualified white cannot be refused admis sion so that a less qualified minority person can be educated. Many minority lawyers believe the UC Regents, dominated by conservative ap pointees of ex-governor Ronald Reagan, chose not to present a strong defense of minority sdminissions programs. “The University’s primary effort was not to win,” but “to obtain a definitive rule on its special admissions program," says Armando Menocal, a lawyer for one of the nation's largest public interest law firms, Public Advocates. “All the University had to lose was a program they never wanted,” adds Black University of San Francisco Law Profes sor Charles Lawrence. UC presented as evidence only one affidavit and one deposition, both from Davis* Admissions Director, D r. George Lowrey. It gave no oral testimony and called no expert witnesses or members of the minority communities involved. “To allow a case of the magnitude and impact of Bakke to be decided without an opportunity for minorities to present vital evidence...is a travesty of justice." writes Charles Lawrence in a legid journal attack on Bakke. Some minority lawyers have even suggested there was collusion between UC and Bakke. But collusive or not, moot believe UC put up too week a legal case to risk a U.S. Supreme Court precedent on minority admissions. “This is a terribly important question for this society," says the National Conference of Black Lawyers’, Ralph Smith. ‘I t ’s one the Supreme Court will have to rule on. But the issues should be (Please turn to p.8 eol.S)
