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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 1977)
Portland Observer Thursday, NovSIWfcer 3, 1977 pa> Front behind the wall allowed the Black inmates within this are voluntarilly sponsored by our Black prison to form and develop avenues to Oregon community. learn, teach, practice, live and celebrate With a growing Black population, 20% of O.S.P ,'s total fourteen hundred in their culture. But in 196«, the percentage of Blacks at O.S.P. was very, very small mates, it has been stated by not only Cupp made it possible for large groups of Black club members, but many other Black community leaders to partake in Black inmates wishing to join maybe helping to establish O.S.P. Black Culture someone should submit a proposal to the Club, also known as "UHURU”. O.S.P. Activities Department for larger All men of Black faces with blue prison facilities - O.S.P. mess hall - in order denims, behind these walls, played some that all Black people behind these walls type of part within the sound functioning may share in celebrating their culture of UHURU, but as time passes, so does together. Also to help plan and present a every living thing in life. The visiting more positive program that would benefit room has grown too small, those mere not only this institution but also that of fifty miles seem as though they have our only State's Black community of grown to a thousand for Black leaders in Albina, in Portland, Oregon, Portland and Albina to travel (the Since that community has been publi majority of Blacks at O.S.P. are from cized as being the most crime infected those areas) and much communication to area in the whole state - and whereas build strength with ones Black culture as today the Oregon State Penitentiary and a mass have been either struck down by the Oregon State Department of Correc rules and regulations, reverse discrimi tion has the distinct honor of housing the nation, lack of concern or population second largest Black population (Port by Larry Baker #35021 boom. It has never been successful for land, Oregon being #1) - it might allow O.S.P. Correa,randeut the blind to ever attempt to lead the closer communication for Blacks to gen blind. There are only a few now who erate more togetherness behind these O.S.P. BLACK CULTURE NIGHT dedicate themselves weekly to instil) that walls, then being forced to remain sepa I FALL 1977| Black pride within these walls. Who are rated as they've become in many cases. It considered our community leaders - is a noted fact that our Oregon Black It wan a taate of Black Honey on Friday leaders would feel more adherence to people such as Calvin Henry, Ron Matin, night, October 22. 1977, between 7: 00 to come and assist O.S.P. administration and John Parker. 9- 00 p.m. inside the visiting room of and staff in their effort to find avenues to Where are these people our families Oregon State Penitentiary, where close alleviate the mass Black prison build-up, helped into these positions we read about to eighty Black faces, clothed in blue if they were assured of reaching every daily in our newspapers when expressing denim, gathered to celebrate their annual Black inmates ear. It can almost be their grievances to City Hall, the County Fall Black Culture Night. Commissioner, state official, state elec predicted if the disadvantageous for Without the ingenious, hard-working Blacks in Oregon continues as it is, along tive representatives and Governor? and dedicated strategy planning of the with the large recycling of Black people Where were you in the Fall of 77 on UHURU Club coordinator, Ray Charles through these gates, it will not be too O.S.P. Black Culture Night? Mrs. Le Maple, and program director, Freddie many years away that the Black popula Vern Davis was here with six beautiful Abraham, this handful of Black men tion behind these walls might soar well soul sisters and three concerned Black would not have been able to relax those pass 50%. brothers, modeling the latest fashions to few hours. be worn this year by Black people. But "No matter how one wishes to look at Spicy soul music, contributed by Ray it," as stated by Dr. Barbara Jackson, Oc these wonderful community Black people Del Clay and his group, featuring An tober 16, 1977 ‘Prospective in Black cannot do all that needs to be done within thony Fatungase on drums, Kenny Earl America,' “Let's face it. Blacks today in this prison for mental and social survival James on bass, Clay on lead guitar, and America are different. They have a among those of us who live in an their female stylish vocalist. Ms. Arlene different home environment, a different atmosphere where a prison number is Allen, backed by the golden voice of struggle to survive, a different pride to more important than your family's given Albert Burrell. name. protect and most of ali a different culture Twice a year the Activities Depart to understand. And now there comes a It is the young Black prisoner here that ment, under the direction of D.A. Ver different direction that those in our really matters. We, who have aged - steed and his staff supervise these American prisons must travel, for those well. At least give them the chance to events, which the UHURU Club is allow who are Black and placed in social and grow with the pride of being Black, that ed to present to a portion of Black civil positions as Black leaders must pride we older ones were denied in our inmates, while the larger Black popula guide them away from The Jaws of day. White folks can’t teach them that. tion find themselves being denied or not Self-Destruction.“ Department of Correction can't teach being able to join the UHURU Club them that. H.C. Cupp can't teach them It was only a few years ago, when a because of the limitation placed on new superintendent named H.C. Cupp that. D.A. Versteed can’t teach them membership. Along with the space became the warden of O.S.P. and under that. And we, who are locked up beside allotted them many Black inmates have his administration he allotted and made these Black youth have not the record for to remain in their cells when these events many changes. Among those changes he example setting. Let not our last Black leaders words die in vain: - “I SEE A DREAM - - 1 SEE A DREAM.” “DAYS ARE MADE” Night fades and day is made oh, the day comes so peacefully and the night was not resistful. Yes I hear the singing of the birds the tune? There're all graceful classic - wait! The wind is saying something, listen; it’s saying, I love you listen to my flow it will ease the mind, soothe the soul and strengthen the will, if only you will listen and hear my ancient flow, your inner being will be assured it has comprehended the wisdom of the wind, each day is so new, so different it seems to always be more experienced to hold more knowledge than the day before it. Day eases into my cell with skill and precision And constant forcefulness, it is unrelenting yesterday I watched day leave, I was not sad to see it go for I had faith it would return for me and for the world, to help us see better our destinations. Our Dad C A N S A V E Y O U M O N E Y O N R E M O D E L IN G . Residential-Commercial HOW ? . . . W HY . .. His business has p o w n , as we have, with the finest staff of CARPENTERS DESIGNERS and ESTIMATORS in the trade. NEIL KELLY * Kitchens • Stores • Baths • Spec. Cabinet work m Vann S Mortuary r n r m ... u v a w t • Offices V 12 « k. , L «, D « , * eej M A _Z A ___ _ —J _____ V.F. Booker, President of American State Bank, recently returned from the National Bankers Association, Inc. 50th Annual Convention, held in Houston. "This was an exceptionally good con vention. When I reflect back to my first convention in 1961, the whole thing could be accommodated in one room. There were only 21 minority banks. Now there are 85, and there were about 500 people at the Convention. “There has been a lot of progress, especially in the minority deposits pro gram. The National Bankers Association has also become more helpful to us because it is now divided into areas and the West Coast has a portion in the board of directors. This insures our region more participation in the programs.” NBA President Robert E. James, ol Savannah, Georgia, said the trade asso ciation for minority banks will “agressive ly pursue” its priority program goals during the next year. These goals, according to James, in clude pressuring the Federal Govern ment for significant expansion of the Minority Bank Deposit Program, expand ing the deposit program more broadly in the private sector, initiating new man agement training programs for minority bankers, developing better working rela tions with other national minority and community-oriented groups, increasing the profitability of minority banks, exp- panding opportunities for minority grad uates in the field of banking. A record number of more than 300 minority bankers, in addition to corpor ate and government officials, attended the 50th annual convention of the Na tional Bankers Association in Houston recently. New NBA President - Robert E. James [left], president of Carver State Bank in James, who is president of Carver Savannah, GA, is congratulated by National Urban League Executive Director State Bank and Publisher of the Savan Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., u;»on being installed as the new president of the National nah Tribune, said, “We not only reviewed Bankers Association, the trade group for the 85 minority-owned banks. The 50th the outstanding service record of mi annual NBA convention was recently held in Houston, Texas. nority banks for the past 50 years, but also focused on new challenges facing all levels to increase their deposits in Burrell urged minority bankers to minority banks.” minority-owned banks. support efforts to establish a National One of the major concerns taken up by The NBA's coveted R.R. Wright Economic Revitalization Authority “as a NBA officials in Houston was “the gap Award was presented to Dr. Berkeley G. minority controlled, independent agency between commitments made by Presi Burrell, President, National Business to coordinate our economic planning." He dent Carter in an April 28th meeting with League, for “consistent and progressive also said minorities must design and NBA executive committee and followup leadership in community and economic organize their own capital development performance," according to James. In this development reflective of the life, of the and venture financing corporations, capi regard, NBA officials had private discus philosophy and of the achievements of talized with private funds but structured sions with Ben Brown, Deputy Director Major Richard Robert Wright, former to receive public capital from the pro of the Democratic National Committee slave, educator, financier and co-founder posed Urban Development Bank and and advisor to the President on minority and first president of the National Bank other federal financing mechanisms. affairs; William Beckham, Assistant Se ers Association.” cretary for Administration, Department of the Treasury; and David Moso, Fiscal Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. »»* urn h m m » » « « « •MMNMMWWMMMtMMM James said the series of meetings were most helpful to NBA in developing new At th e tim e of Bereavem ent: strategies to "get the Minority Bank Deposit program on the right track." James, who has served as President of If you wish a tra d itio n a l fu n e ra l service or, Carver State Bank since 1971, is a 1968 graduate of Morris Brown College of If you wish a Personality Structured Service, Atlanta and received his Master's degree in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School in 1970. V a n n ’s M o rtu a ry can be d e p e n d e d on to In a keynote address to the NBA convention, National Urban League Exe p ro vid e first class service. J cutive Director Vernon Jordan urged NBA and its member banks “to play their "Community and Political Develop ment" will be the topic of the second in a part in the minority community's strug series of public forums sponsored by gle to win national job and urban pro Portland State University's Educational grams," and pledged the support of the National Urban League" for measures Center, 4815 N.E. 7th. that will foster the growth of the mi The forum will be at 6:00 p.m., Novem nority-owned banking industry." ber 3rd, at the center. Jordan called on governmental units at Panelists will be Bill McCoy, Oregon State senator; Phil McLaurin, acting 5211 N. W illiams Avenue 2 8 1 -2 8 3 6 director of training and employment for ............................................................. ............................. - r r r r r r r j j j n j j j j j the City of Portland; Cal Henry, presi dent of Oregon Assembly for Blacks; and former Oregon State Senator and newly appointed Judge. Betty Roberts. "The forum will give persons access to public officials who help to shape the policies that exist in their communities," says Lucious Hicks director of the Educa tional Center. "Before people can become involved in shaping the policies that affect them they must first understand what those policies consist of. The forum should enable citizens to become better equipped to create, determine and implement policy decisions.” Topics of coming discussions will in clude strategies for affirmative action and employment (December 1), and com munity values (January 5). Politics seminar subject John L. Smith #34923 • Additions Minority bankers develop strategy COMPANY Super Shopping Centers Help Lower your Cost of Living . . . 735 N. Alberta, Portland, Oregon 97217 Call Now 2 8 7 .4 1 7 6 Author discusses political prisoners "Carter and Human Rights in Latin America -- Myth vs. Reality” will be the topic of a public lecture by Hugo Blanco on Thursday, November 10th at 8:00 p.m. in the Reed College community center. The free lecture is sponsored by the Reed public affairs board and the U.S. Com mittee for Justice to Latin American Political Prisoners (USLA). Hugo Blanco is the author of I .and or Death, a book on the peasant struggle in Peru. Based on his experiences as a Peruvian worker and peasant organizer, a leader of a massive land reform movement, a political prisoner and exile, he will analyze the Carter administra tion's foreign policy in Latin America, comparing it with that of past administra tions. USLA is a New York based civil liberties group which works closely with related organizations such as Amnesty International, which won the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to protect political prisoners throughout the world. Your nearby Fred M eyer Super Shopping Center is fille d w ith "P eople-P leasinq" services to m ake your shopping m ore pleasant. W ide, spacious aisles, frie n d ly e p fu l clerks and undercover parcel loading are just some of the "People-Pleas ing services to you Plus , everyday low prices on thousands of items you use and need everyday help low er your cost o f livin g ,o 10 p m d a ,ly ' in c lu d i" 9 s ' " ’ d°v- •hop w hen you WANT to, nol w hen you HAVE to. C o m . in a nytim e and -fu n s h o p " in o pleasant, relaxed atm osphere. . Walnut Park N.E. Killing.warth at Union • irit(>rStat(> N. Lombard at Interstate Peninsula 6 8 5 0 N. Lombt «. Plenty of Free and Easy Parking z Open 9 am to 10 pm daily, including Sunday. «
