" - ■
W
Portland Observer.
From behind the wall
who specialise within the criminal justice
field. Le. (attorneys, judges, law-makers,
ate.) professional people licensed to in
terprets nolo contendere, voir dire, res
judicata and all the other language
incarcerated prisoners may have heard
within their appearancee in
The only sad part of this legal class, is
those individuals are attempting to learn
is this reporter's observation, that such
classes should be first instituted within
each and every county jail - so as an
individual goes through the different
processes of the laws and courts, he or
she may have knswlsfgs of. But that
coot money, money that the Oregon
taxpayers would have second thoughts in
paying for
Another main statement repeated over
and over through the newly developed
Legal Law Clam. "I could not trust my
attorney." or “my attorney sold me out."
A basic law clam established in county
jails would eliminate much of the suspi
cion and strengthen the relationship in
confidentiality between attorney and
client privileges, especially where the
cam may be the detained incarcerated
client may be Black and the attorney is
white, with the accused criminal charges
being major.
The above statement is an area where
the professionals become very evasive in
discussing, because it exposes bias within
their racial convictions.
A fter all of the manipulation, fenesse
shouting and plea bargaining hm ceased,
and the final curtains (sentencing) are
drawn, many of them inmate students'
confusions and frustrations become the
property of one man. behind them walls.
Inmate vs. H.C. Cupp. Superintendent,
the Correction's Panacea. The Rehabili-
tator. The Keeper of the Keys, a job no
one really wants and only a few can do -
trying to straighten out the lives of
society cast-offs and socially unaccepted.
This year, many laws were passed in
the criminal justice field by our state
legislators.
Laws which clearly may
mean for some of us here in prisons that
all doors have been shut, except the ones
you came in through, "The Courts".
Having knowledge of laws is a very
precious tool for the individuals in
O-S.P.’s Legal Law Clam, for there are a
few of us behind them walls who still
claim our innocence.
i
«M M
This win be just a short article about
the recent raise the legislature» made in
their salaries by 28%.
In 1975 they voted to cut them in the
next two y e a n from the $487 per month
plus $30 per day expenses to $400, but
apparently they do not want to follow
their own laws if it does not benefit
them.
One grant problem is the employment
situation and inmates from the Oregon
State Penitentiary. Most are released
and then seek jobs, so that they, as much
m the ones who elected the legislatures
are the ones who will have to foot the bill
for this added expenditure of 23%.
Not too many years ago legislatures
worked for very little and were actually
more dedicated to helping their fellow
man, that is thorn who had elected them
in the first place, but now the name of the
game is money.
Of course many legislatures will try to
justify the raise by mying that they have
rising expenses, family, etc. to support.
Have they given any thought to the poor
inmates at the Oregon State Penitentiary
making 50c per day working in the
laundry, furniture factory, or the like.
Them men have families and expenses
too, which increase and will continue to
incream just as long as the legislature
«rill not make a move to cut rather than
incream their huge salaries.
Inmates released from the Oregon
State Penitentiary have an extremely
hard time in just finding a job, but to see
the legislature, who are supposed to be
setting good examples grasp for more
and more money, you really begin to
wooder who the real robber is.
by Ray Charles Maple
I Black Culture, President!
by Clean R. Amate
For the past two years the O.S.P. Black
Culture Organization has heqn working
very hard to develop a self-supporting
program that might answer to the needs
of the large Black population housed at
the Oregon State Penitentiary. Such a
program was brought to the attention of
the institution officials, which was ap
proved unanimously, so at this dste The
Uhuru Club is in the business of hobby. In
turn the different articles that are p re
duced will be placed out at the Hobby
Shop (entrance to the main gate) for sale.
Under the conditions submitted to the
O.S.P. administration, that all members
must contribute either in funds, material
or time to the production of different
craft that will be sold at a reasonable
price. i.e. (leather purses, billfolds, key-
purses. painting, silverwork and many
other items).
The Black Culture Organization should
be overly grateful to one member who
worked aimlessly and dedicated many of
his free moments working on the propo
sals and having meetings with the powers
to be thought out over the past two
years, when all hope seemed gone of such
a project becoming a reality.
W.D.
Norris, the Seargent at Arms for the
Black club just wouldn't give up such a
worthy project and «rith his keen insight
he knew this was a big move that would
be an asset for all his Black brothe»
inside these walls. Take a bow, Mr. W.D.
Norris.
B ER K E LE Y, C A L IF . - Graduation
day.
These are magic words for any college
man or woman, hut particularly hearten
ing for a minority student. J'our years of
sacrifice and study culmmite on the day
the graduate receives hid diploma, lie
feels a flush of pride...anq wonders what
to do with his educate
Luther Strong, Jr. bodes that minority
student considers the N*vy.
The 42-year-old son
Luther and Opal
Strong of Portland, Oregon, is in a posi
i ' s «f
tion to know. He’s
d li
lieutenant cornmsn
der in the naval r«4er
reserves - one of forty
Campus Liasion Officers (CLO) through
out the United States who deal exclu
sively with minority officer recruitingon
college campuses.
Strong, special assistant to the v^e-
president at the University of Washing,
ton in Seattle, feels' a Navy career “is a
satisfying and rewarding outlet for a
dedicated man or woftian's skills.
“Intelligent and creative people aren't
content to settle for second-best," he
continued.
“Navy officers aren't any
different. They’re ambitious, and that's
probably why they’re in the Navy. Skills
are rewarded as well as appreciated.”
Strong is no stranger to military life,
having served in the Marine Corps for
two years.
“My experience in the Marines taught
me a lot about self-discipline and its
advantages,” he said. “Those who put
their time and energy to gbod use are
hound to make an impression on their
superiors."
As a CLO, Strong believe. he has a
responsibility to “recruit people with a
point <rf view. I want to know why
they’re thinking of joining the Navy. If
it's because they're expecting preferen
Hal treatment by virtue of their minority
status. I suggest they look elsewhere.
They need to be committed to their Navy
jobs and work as a member of a team.
“I don’t want to paint a grim picture of
Navy life,” he added. "The benefits are
enormous. People form strong, lasting
friendships. These factors are important,
but they shouldn’t be the only reasons a
man or woman accepts a commission."
The C l / ) program, established in 1968,
is a branch of the Navy Kecruiting
Command. Strong recently attended the
annual C I / ) conference here, which coin
cided with the largely Black membership
National Naval Officer’s Association con
ference and a reunion among the ten
surviving members of the first Black
naval officers commissioned as a unit in
1944. The meeting included briefings and
workshops by members of the naval
reserve community from the field of
education and officers on active duty
working to improve communication in
minority recruiting affairs.
“Navy life is unique," Strong said. T m
happy to see the Navy push its minority
recruiting efforts. It gives deserving
men and women a good opportunity to
see just what the Navy has to offer."
--■-«< - »---- -«-
r O C I i l C « O tU rW r »
Recommended
Summer Reading:
The Electric
Bill Cutter’s
Best Friend.
Do-it-yourself
H om e Insulation G uide
There is nothing more important to saving
energy than proper home insulation And
this summer —before winter electric bills
arrive —is the best time to do something
about upgrading your homes insulation
We've got just the ticket. It's our new
Do-it-Yourself Home Insulation Guide, and
it’s yours for the asking at any PP&L Power
Saver Center.
What'll it tell you? Page for page, it's got
more information on insulation than you’ll
probably ever use Such as:
W here to Insulate:
Floors:
Ceilings
The color of the aoul and the hearts of white mec.
The beauty and culture of the black man.
The days of bow aod the poet (800 yra).
The attitudes of whites and the shadows hanging
over them. The clouds over the heeds of every black,
man. woman, and child.
BUcfc to the bed color, "the white nw any."
The outlaw to never dressed in white, or
have you noticed? The moot dominate color of
all to black.
I f you are white, you are right
" If you are black, get back!"
"It's a damns shame."
Walls:
Ventilation and
Vapor Control:
Barriers
■SHWi
OB MAN, I'M ONLY
DOING MY JOB
I looked at the man in front of me -
I hate you. I said.
W hat de you mean you hate me? You don't evei
know me aaid he.
Need I know you, the enemy who locks me up
Each night barricading me from my rightful
freedom....naid I?
Ventilation:
=TI|
Tools required:
N?
:18
:15
: ,4
=13
12
Ohl Man! I ’m only doing my job
Bald be.
Huh, yeah, said L I heard that sound before,
It's familiar ring in the slave ships and the
gas chambers of Aueehivritx, TrebUnka, yes
in Melai, even in Attica, I heard the man in the
Gun tower utter the exact phrase as he took
careful aim and put a well placed bullet in
George Jackson’s bead.
And now I hear it again.
But you after all are merely a tool tricked,
IsdocUtoMBd by
press to frsodotn tbs
place before your eyes - here "T O K E N NEGRO" I
Keys and lock up those that shame your race.
How to Order:
Preparation:
Safety Hints
You. mindtoes one are a puppet, your strings pull
By the dollar sign, hew can you realise the truth
in what I say? Ask far forgiveness
fsslisb otts*
For in the end Ged will deride tho fate of your
Betook at the
Me and my Bi
You then say..
Page 3
Strong recruits for Novy
about something that has effected their
lives, after the damage has been done It
The Mack La w Cine
The Black Law Claaa of the Oregon
S U U Penitentiary waa founded last
March under the heading of the Black
Culture Organisation, in the future shall
ba known as the O.S.P. Legal Law Class
and will function under the direct
authority of the O.S.P. Education De
partment.
This successful creative class will take
off on this new avenue this summer,
because apparently it has been a noticed
fact that the majority of the incarcerated
prisoners, not only at O.8.P.. but nation
wide are unknowledgeable of the “due
process" of law they have gone through
after the last cell door has slammed or the
last lock is snapped. Where time, and
time alone has become their only ’Rights’
to freedom.
Let's face it. In many cases juries have
been wrong, judges have made mistakes,
witnesses have lied, attorneys even have
been prejudiced and the dollar bill has
talked to much within our justice systems
of today. A system where many have
died to protect it and many have died
violating it. but it is all we have to assure
us that the “Rights" of all people are
protected within the boundary of our fifty
states under the U.S. Constitution. So
until a more worthy or thorough criminal
justice system is greeted and developed
to replace what we have today, a class of
twenty inmates at O.8.P. twice a month
«rill volunteer two hours dealing with it
and its concepts. They will deal with it.
not only on a collective basis, but also in
an individual manner, because their lives
are at stake.
The main question constantly being the
focussing point of each session is "by law
- why am I here?" These questions are
being answered each first and third
Friday of each month by volunteer guest
lecturers, selected by the two inmate
instructors, who govern the classes pro
gress. The guest lecturers are people
Thursday. August 18, 1977
commit in locking up
ad Bieters sash night, 1st
m
Oh Maa.... J m only doing my jobl
The People at Pacific Power