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
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_______
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
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B irthrigh t
I've tripped. I ’ve fallen
I ’ ve done them all
and if you’ ll listen, you’ ll here me call
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• 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
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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
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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