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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 6, 1978)
P |g e 4 Portland Observer Thursday, July 6, 1978 Ex-pritoner Behind the wall l* m hw H i U Juku. D. SeewA■a »38013, Peetry Editer Raker »35021. To: Benjamin Hooks Executive Director National Association for the Advancement o f Colored People The symbol superimposes a map o f the U .S . on a map o f A frica. The symbol born eleven years ago in San Quentin was the result o f the need o f Black prisoners for an identity — to express th e ir sense o f self. Drawing a pencil sketch. Lax showed To shake hands with a man that usually shakes hands with Presidents. Kings and royal dignitaries, was a rare and honorable privilege for me, personally. W h a t should have been m ore strongly publicized may have ac tually escaped this n atio n ’s eyes. • Benjamin L. Hooks' actions speak much louder than his words." O r was it too much o f a m ajor event for the news media to place before the nation’s eyes? Was your concern for Black people in prisons too much of a humanistic fete for the American public to understand? How you must have shocked the nation and the Convention when you stepped from the plane, with the decision that your first official act, was not to ascend upon the mass awaiting your arrival somewhere in Portland, Oregon, nor to go through the C o n v e n tio n 's tra d itio n a l ceremonies (such as accepting the keys to the city). But to drive straight to the gates o f the Oregon State Penitentiary, only to knock upon its doors, and to greet a small group o f your people who have been labeled •‘Societies outcasts” — the Black prisoners. I only hope this act you displayed may be viewed by Black people in prisons throughout the United States — th a t th e N A A C P is in fu ll Michael Johnson and Larry Baker contemplate Hooks' visit reco g nition o f th e ir presence in crowded cells and you are calling upon your loyal chapters to respond to the social pressures which may have placed so many Black faces behind stone walls. Your presence clearly displayed to me that now is the time that Black leaders in this country must start ad dressing themselves to this problem. W e must no longer let this problem remain someone elses problem. 1 pray you also focus your strength and attention upon Black youth for the sole purpose that we, who are their "ro o ts” in prison have failed to demonstrate as shining examples, our “ roots” displayed when chains and cages were the nature o f the day . . . slavery. A lot o f people inside the walls and out have been responsible for the in vitation extended to you. W e are only th a n k fu l you answered our "beckon call” and gave us the sup port we need. You have also opened the avenue for other Black leaders to follow , by walking into Am erica’s prisons and jails to let people know some day this will be done. But as you stated, it is we who must be willing also to help our selves. Nothing comes free and easy, i f it has real meaning. Once again I can raise my eyes out o f the dust, raise my head up high, straighten my back and walk like a man with the spirit bestowed upon Black people from birth. Yes, Moses has come to the moun tain and left his message and his mark . . . and fulfilled a dream. “ I only pray that someday my child can be worthy enough to fill your shoes, and if the day ever comes when he can look out over the mass o f Black faces in a prison, that his eyes may never touch the eyes o f your child.” Hooks visits OSP inmotos Deon Washington asked that the N A A C P help establish a half-way house in the A lbina community. Darrell Hughes told the group that never before had he seen a state where it is as easy for a Black to be railroaded to prison, where Blacks are so disunified. " I hope and pray you will use your time while you are here to investigate what is happening — the young men with long sen tences — or changes that w ouldn't stand up in court in another state.” Hooks went to O .S .P . at the in vitation o f the inmates legal process class, coordinated by Larry Baker. The inmates had the fu ll support o f W ard en H o y t C u p p , D ire c to r o f C o rrectio n s, R ob ert W atson and the G o v e rn o r’ s o ffice. They also received letters o f support fro m thirty public officials and from the Oregon N A A C P Branches. Ms. Berna Plummer coordinated the efforts outside the prison and (Continued from Page 1 Colum n 3) voived in cases o f prison conditions. Among the problems seen are the unequal numbers o f Blacks sen tenced, conditions inside the peniten tiary, and imbalance in supervision personnel J. Nathaniel Jones, N A A C P Legal Counsel, said a m ajor problem is the location of prisons in small towns or rural areas so the staff reflects the community. Although inmates may be p re d o m in a n tly m in o rities the staff will be mostly white. In response to discussion o f hoped for involvement o f local N A A C P Branches with the inmates, D avid Knighten said, "There are plenty o f community leaders, they just aren’t here.” Reverend John Jackson, president of the Portland Branch committed himself to take a more active role in involving the community w ith the inmates. OtNTiST tlh n Pçornpl DENTAL Repairs IM f B G IN C K S C IV C N IMMMIDIATK A TTCM TlON ★ No Appointment Needed ★ Do n»f defoy «••dmd Dentei C reek». Ch»e» nwwy" lo u g h S «w' u H o t e i ori« end W Loo UWBW fr t een cew»e »er»ew» « o n d 'tto n » «• Ow m i, Tengwe e n d M o u th doo / /Aeie Aererds tb e r e m e d y «» utueM y »wngle e n d «he c e r r e t t ie n «en be g u x k ty • t t o m p l iih e d w nder «he Are«e»»>enel dire<«*en» e« y e o * Den«ig«. Im p r e v e d C h e w tn g . S g e e k tn g e n d A p p e a r e m e e r d e««en ( « t r e B ene«i«t W e O p e r e « e Owr O w n U nio n D e n to / L e b re « o ry W>«h«n O u r PRICES QUOTED - L a rry Baker from inside. Charles Keaton, Director o f Rehabilitation, directed the a c tiv ity fo r the in stitution. C h a rle s K e a to n , D ire c to r o f R e h a b ilita tio n , to ld the O bserver th at he was pleased th at H ooks visited the penitentiary and hopes that the visit w ill focus the local com m unity’ s eyes on the needs o f the Black prisoners. “ W e need to get people out o f prison and help them stay out. We need Black people to help us. W e can train men for jobs but we can’t place all o f them. We need jobs — good jobs, not mopping out restaurants for minimum wage. " W e need local Black people that will take a real interest — make a commitment o f some time and ef fort. They need to come into the prison and get to know the men — to be there to help after they are out. " M a n y men come back because when they get out they go back to their old friends and get in trouble again. There is no place else to go. They need to know people who can help them find a new social group, a new way to live. “ 1 am looking forward to a new, favorable relationship with the Port lan d N A A C P . I am re a lly glad Hooks came and I believe his visit can have some positive results ” H oo ks said o f his visit to the penitentiary, “ I always have mixed feelings when 1 go into a prison. There is so much talent going to waste behind locked doors, and you have to consider how it would be to be locked up for years. " O n the other hand, there is much to be done, both inside the prison and in the community. W e can work w ith the men to try to m ake rehabilitation work. Rehabilitation is a state o f mind — we have to reach the emotions and the m ind .” Hooks said he feels assured that the local Branch will begin to work in the prison, to help prisoners with their adjustment back to the com munity. N O F I N A N C l C O M P A N F O » B A N K TO O f A l W IT H L.ce»>«4 A N IS TH ITliT A»a ,l.b lr ^T D wiwM d e n t SI 5 9.W . 4 t h Ave. k l w i i AMn S W tikiaylM O** k »'. A i m in IA L IH « lU C tM Viait: 2 1 7 -1 4 2 7 M o u 't IH « M «C FM ;- c the symbol around and when it was accepted he made them in his cell at night out o f metal from the prison shops, a blowtorch made out o f a Zippo lighter, and soft solder from the electrical shop. A n assistant psychiatrist provided a jeweler’s saw and blades. This continued until his release in 1969. Convinced that the symbol would sell, and denied bank loans. Lax and his wife mortgaged their home and put their resources into production. H e hopes that one day millions o f Black Americans will wear the sym bol with pride. Uhuru sponsors 'Togothor* The O .S .P . Uhuru Club will hold a “ Togetherness” at the Open Door House o f Prayer, 348 N . Fremont on July 15th at 6:00 p.m . The evening is an e ffo rt to involve fa m ilies, so children are invited. Recognizing the fact that forced separation brings additional stresses on the fam ily, the Uhuru Club in vites the c o m m u n ity to atten d “ Together” . For inform ation call REMODELING YOU CAN BE PR O U D OF by DAK Helping to improvd our community's homes and businesses through quality residential and com mercial remodeling. Specialists in de signing kitchens and baths to brighten your home. Distinctive new building/ o ffic e /s to r e e x te r io r s and interiors to im p ro ve JO H N REED BOOK STORE In the Dekum Building 619 S.W . 3rd Avenue Sixth n o w your business. Whatever you need, call us lor an appointment to visit you and discuss your remodeling project, altera tions or additions. Free e s tim a te s P r o f e s s io n a l a d v ic e and assistance with f i nancing. References glad ly furnished Cal1 todav DAK 282-9774. Interested In currant book« about A frican Llbaration? f o r A ll T o u r D e n i a l Meed» Denial Iasaraace MUNTU Lou Gossett, who played " F id d le r'* in R oo ts, and Sam L a x , jeweler and former inmate at San Quentin, introduced M U N T U , a new symbol for Black Americans. M U N T U , the Swahili word for "soul” or "essence o f hum anity,” was created in San Quentin eleven years ago. "Who would have us, as we are? Or staking ‘neath the load we bear. Our eyes fix ed forward on a star. Or gazing em pty at despair. ” Alain Locke Caution: ---- designs CONSTRUCTION CO . INC. 5022 N ALBINA • PORTLAND OREGON MemCMT OHkgon Nvmodwwa ABAucuiHon • Nation* Home improvwneni Count»» • A amm ial««1 Gmwret Coni'* to»* EXODUS X tfuc&fi&fui/o e u f fáaetáa 1518 N E KILLINGSWORTH PORTLAND. OREGON 9721 1 284 7997 Facts of Importance VOLUME II JULY 1978 SERIES I Most questions asked regarding our June statement in the ' Observer'' were: How do we treat persons afflicted with alcoholism? W e treat alcoholism by the uses of a four phase modality, Phase A through D, along with the Triple R concept (Rights. Respect, and Responsibility). PHASE A: When persons come to the EXODUS program as clients they start out in Phase A. After the intake procedure, various crises, emergency and supportive help is provided; further diagnosis is recognized, while a cer tain amount of confidence developes between the client and the EXODUS program. During this phase the client is prepared to enter Phase B. PHASE B: Here the client makes a commitment to adjust his habits one at a time to a more constructive and productive selection through process coun seling and other supportive prescriptions. The Triple R (Rights, Respect and Responsibility) concept is used as a measuring model by which the client can objectively balance his Rights to his Responsibilities through Respect. At present we have no Phase B clients. PHASE C: After a client has successfully gone through Phase B he enters Phase C, which is a direct supportive service to help the client when he runs in to difficulties regarding job, family or friends. PHASE D: Is a forever follow-up service to let the client know that, even though he/she has completed the EXODUS program, if help is over needed we are here, and no "blame factor" is at stake. This is done through periodic mailings and group activity invitations. The EXODUS program has been in existence for almost four months. It has gained approximately 110 clients, and has expanded to include a day care facility and a residential center. Yea, we are effectively treating alcoholism by the hour, by the day, by the month. Our clients appreciate your support, contributions and donations. J “® Or call: ' l.„ W w ( All 227 2902 \ i
