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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (April 12, 1979)
Portland Obaarvar Thursday, April 12,1979 Paga 7 SPORTS HOUR JOE’S PLACE 'What Cells Are The 'Niggers' In?" When you spend years at O.S.P. you cannot help but become socially conscious or even'racially paranoid. Both o f which, if you allow yourself to feed upon such sicknesses, arc doomed for mental destruction. It is very evident each day by watching the disp ro p o rtio n a te number o f Black prisoners being squeezed into this sardine can. You begin to question the destiny and future ac ceptance o f Blacks in this State. W ith a Black prison population 15% times greater than the State Black population it should indicate that there is a problem. This is not to say that it is not a concern o f the people who work here in the correc tions and criminal justice field, but it is apparent that they do not know what to do about it. Portland is fifty miles from this state prison where over 90% o f the Black population has settled. In many cases those same fifty miles seem like 500 for obtaining correct in fo rm a tio n and com m unity re sources to balance the racial problem. Can you imagine a Black stranger coming to the capitol city o f this State and inquiring, “ Where do all the Black folks live?” , only to be directed to 2605 State Street where the ‘ hotel’ sign reads ‘Welcome to the Oregon State Penitentiary.’ But again, this problem is not the creation o f the City o f Salem, nor can you believe that Salem wants to inherit the notoriety o f having the se cond largest concentrated Black population in Oregon. When most o f them are behind bars. Naturally communication plays a great role from one community to another — be it from this Black prison community to Albina in Portland. Sometimes there comes a need for Black people to talk just to Black people and this is what this Corre spondent is going to attempt with this article. In other words I ’m gon na' talk a little “ turnip greens and chittlin’ and sprinkle some fat-back” for soul. This article is not directed at any one particular leader in the com munity — where a face just happens to be born Black — shoes sometimes can fit on the strangest feet. This column serves a great need. To inform Black people everywhere in order that they may stay abreast of the prison scene and with their loved ones who are confined. The distribution o f the Portland Obser ver every Friday throughout the cell- blocks presents a positive effect on Blacks who are here. It keeps them clued in on the ’ happenings’ around their stomping grounds which seem to be changing every day. Sure you're not going to agree with everything this Correspondent comments on but you reserve that right. But the prisoner also reserves that right. The main thing is that this column is one step closer to closing that gap in com m unication over those fifty miles. Having the chance to shout every now and then, “ Hey! Yal’ , there sure is a lot o f Black faces down here, regardless if they’ ve got ten a fair shake in court or not. The sad thing is that most o f these faces arc young and they a in ’ t doing nothin* but just trying to wear out a cell. Now don't get me wrong. Some o f us belong here, but not this many. Again, there are those people who would be just as happy to see this column disbanded, because o f the fact that they might not want it known that this prison is full o f Black people in their neighborhood. And then again there are those who believe this C orrespondent isn ’ t radical enough in his articles to excite some o f the influential Blacks in this State into addressing the Black incar ceration problem. W ell, have you ever considered that there are those influential Blacks who may not know the answers either, or maybe they ju st d o n 't care, there is an old saying, “ out o f sight, out o f mind.” And for Blacks inside these walls who want to “ get-down for the get- down” (radical w riting), come on with it. Guaranteed it w ill be printed, and uncensored too. Just make sure you got your signature on the dotted line. This Correspondent w ill per sonally testify that since the birth of this ’ Behind the W all’ column, not once has any institution staff mem ber censored or stopped one article from going to publicatio n. How many other prisons in the U.S. can make that statement? A young Black creative mind is a delicious treasure to destroy these days. Our prisons are filled to the brim with them. For what purpose, to rot? Walking the ‘ Big Yard’ daily scratches the nerves as one watches the n o n -m o tiva tio n circu la tin g among the prisoners. A majority o f the young Blacks have lost the am bition to hit the books for a certain num ber o f hours a week, and challenge what vocational training there is here. But how do you tell a young Black in prispn that there is more to life than ‘going to the hoop” (basketball) or ’ killing big 6’ (playing dominos)? Sadder yet is to ask one to name a Black public or community leader, only to watch a blank ex pression slip quickly across their face. H ELP W AN TED . Any Oregon Black leader to volunteer a little time assisting in a struggle to save some o f these young Black ‘ ro o ts’ o f tomorrow. In past years many Oregon Black leaders had to “ window-dress and buck-dance” to help other Blacks. Hopefully those ‘ skinnin* and grin- nin’ days are over. So yal’ , come on. Please don’t bring any disappointed promises or fading campaign speech- 8TRENGTH OF M AN The strength in a man is not his power or his land nor the money he holds in his hand The strength in a man is his heart and soul to keep him beholden to You Dear Lord, to keep him beholden to You Dear Lord 1801 N.E. Alberta WILL DRAFT YOU FOR ONLY 15« Days: Sat., Sun. & Mon. Call: 288-8786 E • 4 41 1 1.1 M t lw o w b i . • J S tfi * l o U U - n i i d . • I 2 2 n d 4 N I O l.t a n • Ooh (Jrov» _______ Bob Flaherty #39092 rV.tf Bwrttald. * * « * » • * • a t U M IT IO ( * X I I I DENTAL INSURANCE CALVIN HENRY es. Don’t try to stand before these young unconscious desperate Black bucks with a, “ you should do this and you should do that” sermon. Word your conversations with “ we’s and let’ s.” Don’ t leave this responsi b ility fo r the Senators fro m Josephine and Jackson counties’ ; Representatives from M arion and Lane districts; or preachers and town folk from Salem. You are the Black community leaders whom many of the State and public officials turn to when a Black problem arises in this State. Not even the caseworkers o f this institution can bring the effect that you can — as far as guidance and com m unity acception. The young incarcerated Black people are a product o f your community, they are not the ‘ Niggers in that cell,’ unless you want them to develop into such. Let white leaders o f this State look into your Black faces and know you are not lying when you step forward to speak on their behalf. A ll Black people — even those caged in cages each night. Recently a Black leader did step out o f the shadow o f his norms, and left a tremendous effect on a large group o f Black prisoners by his comments. His name is Calvin Henry, President o f the Oregon Assembly For Blacks and the founder o f the Corvallis and Salem NAACP Branches. Henry expressed grave concern for the mass o f incarcerated Blacks in Oregon prisons and jails today. He enlightened them on a couple o f btiis slowly creeping through the Legislature (HB 2749 and SB 579). Bills that would call for the establish ment in Oregon’ s government for a Black Commission. The passage o f this bill w ill provide answers and solutions for all the Black people in this State. Henry informed his cap tive audience and their families that he w ill never turn his back on the people who have strayed to this depth. It was quite apparent as he looked out across the fu ll room and into their darkened eyes that there was She’s pregnant. She’s deserted. She needs help. She should call free confidential counseling for pregnant girls Mayer Building at ____ 1130 S.W Mdrrison Help! . 1 4 ft, 4 t . | . « 4 4 .r t.O T , 4 M | M am ooh 1 4 t h 4 * 1 . O t » l» i.n 4 . la fc . o . — o » o » 0 » 4 » . . M in g C ity . . . UNION OR COMPANY 221-0598 B irthrigh t I've tripped. I ’ve fallen I ’ ve done them all and if you’ ll listen, you’ ll here me call . • N Umbord Of Orooloy • 2Jrd • » o lo ,» f , H i l l , « l . i . • 1 4 2 n d o f S I 01 » .» io n The strength in a man is his heart and his soul to keep him beholden to You Dear Lord . . . to keep him beholden to You Dear Lord. I remember things I ’ ve never known I ’ ve forgot the things I’ ve often known SHOP FOR BRANDS you k n o w VA R IK TIK S y o u l i k e SIZES y o u w o « t The strength in a man is not his power or his land nor all the money that he can hold in his hands, I ’ ve Run a Road o f Snow and Slush I've never felt a better rush ----------- For Mora Information ■ENOW'S A man with a mind that is weak and soft will hasten when old satan comes his way and he will listen as he glisten to the glorious things he can earn, he can earn i f he goes his sinful ways, Robert Ramsdell #36506 ----- much work to be done — work that w ill save them from a greater death then these iron bars and prison walls present. A death o f self-rejection. H enry called upon the Black prisoners to widen th e ir m inds, through whatever education or voca tional training they can receive while in prison. “ It w ill take that in order to develop econom ically and mentally through the art o f every day living once released,” stated Henry What type o f impresson did Calvin Henry leave upon the young Black prisoners that evening? Would you believe that two immediately regi stered into school the very next morn ing? Sure you can laugh, i f you wish, but 2% o f something is better than 100% o f nothing. By the way, Calvin Henry was the first Black community leader these two young men had ever met. Who w ill be the next? HELP W AN TED ! Black Oregon public and community leaders need ed at O.S.P., or “ What Cells W ill The ‘ Niggers’ Be In Tomorrow?” is a valuable asset. . . your health and appearance COMPLETE COOPERATION ON A L L DENTAL INSURANCE C LAIM S WE HANDLE ALL THE DETAILS OF COMPLETING YOUR CLAIM FORMS no appointment needed Come in at your convenience PARK FREE — Any Park n Shop Lot HOURS: Weekdays 8:30a.m. to 5p.m . Saturdays 8:30a.m. to 1 p.m. Dr. Jeffrey BRADY, Dentist S.W. 3RD & YAMHILL ST.. PORTLAND. OREGON TAKE ELEVATOR TO 2ND FLOOR 3RD ST. ENTRANCE EXODUS ' '■’fósA s/eú/n â e/uca/¿&na¿a n e / j/reei/m&nJ féen/ee 1518 N E KILLINGSWORTH PORTLAND. OREGON 9721 1 284-7997 APRIL 1979 A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF EXODUS THE BETTER WAY I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day; I'd rather one should walk with me, than merely show the way. The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear; Fine counsel is confusing, but examples always clear. And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds, For to see the good in action is what everybody needs. I can soon learn how to do it if you'll let me see it done. I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run. And the lectures you deliver may be very wise and true. But I'd rather get my lesson by observing what you do. For I may misunderstand you, and the high ad vice you give, But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live. » i
