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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 9, 1979)
Portland Profile by Linda Thompson Il has been my belief for many years that each individual has a cer tain area that he/she performs best in professionally. For humanitarians cannot be bookkeepers and book keepers cannot be humanitarians. To be truly successful, one should not work out o f his “ calling". Our role model fo r this week, James Mason, is indeed w orking within his professional calling. His mild manner and very basic attitude gives his clients a feeling o f comfort and "a t ease” — a very necessary quality for his type o f counselling. Mason is a probation officer for the State o f Oregon, Portland Bran ch, North. A native o f H ouston, Texas, Mason attended high school in various parts o f the U.S. including the states o f Texas, Oregon and C a lifo rn ia . He received his high school diploma from Burrough High School in B urrough, C a lifo rn ia . From high school he went into the Marine Corps. He then decided to further his education in Longview, W ashington at Low er C olum bia College where he majored in pre- nursing. This major was short lived because o f school rules - at least two males had to be enrolled in a class Portland Observer Thursday. August 9, 1979 Page 6 and males were not allowed to demonstrate procedures on women. Being the only man enrolled in the course, the idea o f being a nurse had to be abandoned. In I960, he did on-the-job training as a H isto lo g ica l Technician at Emanuel Hospital and took required courses at the University o f Oregon Health Science Center. He remained at Emanuel for nine years. Edncaton and the need for it is a reality that Mason knew. In 1969, he returned to school at Oregon College o f Education in Monmouth, where he received a BS in Social Science Eduction. James is a humanitarian in his own right. His entire professional career exemplifies the above statement. In 1972 he became a Corrections Coun sellor for Oregon State Penitentiary. During this time he was also working on his m aster’ s degree at OCE, m a jo rin g in C o rre c tio n a l A d ministration. From OSP, he trans ferred to his present position. Approximately two terms a year James uses his talent and expertise to teach a course in P robation and Parole or Corrections at Portland Community College. The very quiet mannered M r. Mason enjoys jogging, basketball, baseball, remodeling and yard work. American State Bank A family man, James is the father o f fo u r children: Silvia, C alvin, Angela and Jermaine. He is married to E lla Ann M ason, an RN at Emanuel. One o f the many reasons why I have admired and respected Mason as a professional over the years is the fact that he projects a sense o f security about him self. He can mingle with his clients in almost any area and still maintain their respect. Mason has this to say about suc cess: "L ife has not always been easy for me, especially in high school. 1 credit much o f my adjustment to my family and the people who really cared for me. In any field you decide to go in to, there is a certain amount o f dedication and sacrifice on your part and your family members' parts. To be able to deal in any behavioral type profession, one must possess a cer tain amount o f hum anitarianism . You must use the golden rule theory. I treat all my clients as 1 would like to be treated if I were in their position instead o f mine. “ I f you have any idea o f what profession you are interested in, familiarize yourself with key persons in these professions. The reason for depend on those institutions to do their responsibilities in givin g a "The Bank that integration built ‘ ' 2737 N.E. Union JAM ES MASON this is that you cannot in all cases minority student the necessary career counseling. "Education is the backbone to all o f it. There is a discriminatory way o f eliminating and screening out per sons for certain positions. I f youhave it, you can demand certain things. If you don't, what can you do?” Until next week remember: First comprehend and remember that con sistency is the key to success in any relationship." 282-2216 T LOOK FOR THE BIG "T "A Sure Sign of Good Taste" Black Repertory Theatre presents 'For Colored Girls Excitement and anticipation have already begun to permeate those who have heard that the Portland Black R epertory Theatre w ill present Ntozake Shange’ s “ For Colored G irls . . . ” “ For Colored G irls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rain bow Is Enuf” w ill run August 16 through September 22nd, Thursday th rough Saturday, at 9:00 p.m . (7:30 for dinner) at Opening Night C abaret, 2229 S.E. H aw thorne. Rosemary Allen directs and Thara M em ory and the P o rtla n d Jazz Allstars, which include Sonny King, Janice Scroggins, Andre St. James and Don Redmond, w ill play an original score arranged by Memory. Ntozake Shange (pronounced En- Tow-Zok-aye and Shawn-gay) is one o f the brightest stars now rising in the literary and theatrical w orld. Shange’ s choreopoem is a life ’ s statement as to what Shange herself is all about. The work is an o r chestrated, choreographed presen tation o f poems and prose pieces for seven Black actresses. Ms. A lle n has cast a talented group o f professional and amateur local Black actresses. From ages 25 to 38, all have personally experienced many o f the triumphs and errors o f the women in “ For Colored Girls . . .’ ’ The seven women, who are simply named colors o f the rainbow are: Antoinette Edwards (yellow), Debra Hicks (blue), Omenka Nnadi (pur ple), C arolyn Easterly (orange), Cheryl W ilson (brow n ), Laverne Springer (red), and Ruby Burns (green), who is also choreographer. U nderstudy is Rose W ashington (lavendar). The play is designed to "Sing a Black g irl’s song.” And it does with sadness, pain, hum or and hope. Shange writes, "sing a Black g irl’s song. . .sing a song o f life, she’ s been dead so lo n g .” S tudying the mythology o f women from atiquity to the present day helped Shange develop her sense o f the world, her new and liberated sense o f herself and also her penetrating insight into what she calls "w om en’ s language". Women, for Shange, speak in a kind o f tribal symbolism; for women have been made into what is most often a cruel world apart. Portland Black Repertory Theatre was founded in 1975 as an alternative in a city which abounds in “ industry showcase theatres” which traditionally offer little or no oppor tunities for artists o f color. PBRT has already become a strong force in introducing to Portland audiences talented Black a rtists and plays about the Black experience. A lthough the R epertory is inadequately financed, it has con tinued to produce at least tw o productions yearly. PBRT operates with a core group o f ten actors, technicians and other artists. Auditions are open to professionals and amateur community talent, who are also encouraged to participate in all areas o f production. PBRT prides itself with a talented and experienced production staff for "F o r Colored Girls . . .” Musical Director is the widely known and highly acclaimed trumpet player and band leader, Thara Memory. Ruby Burns, a recent addition to the Port land dance community from New York and in s tru c to r at Dancers W orkshop, is choreographer. C'hoanitia Henderson is costume designer. Henderson designed costumes fo r P o rtlan d ’ s national touring soul-rock band. Pleasure, and was a C ETA artist w ith teh Albina Mural Project. Lighting Designer is Killch Dura Sunia, who will have earned an M .A. in theater arts from PSU this fall. Technical D iector is Ken Berry, m usician and vocalist. D ire c to r, BUILDING MATERIAL discounts ; • U - P A K “ PETE” IS Ijlb j I 40 lb bg $0.96 Use of our blower 3 ’A "R 11 Insul. 6 R 19 Insul. Light Fixtures Pumper Pots Prehung doors 10 Gutter KXZU\JUViZIJ\l J ¿Jj 2 BLKS. SO. OF FRED MEYER-KILLINGSWORTH, 2 8 4 -9 9 3 8 [ BANK CARDS WELCOME - YOUR CHECK TOO! 130 SF 230 SF 40% off 7.96 15.96 2 49 ee - NO TRAINING NECESSARI - HC DOORS $2.50 UP SC DOORS $29.00 FORMICA PREFORMED COUNTERTOPS $1 50 up Solids, Butcher Black ft Marble Washerless faucets 20% off K.D. Cabinets - No doors 5.00 Dutch Boy Paint, white 4.00 gal I Boysen Pain, CT Br. 5 00 gal Toilets, wh. 42 00 [DeskTops 25 00 | Windows, odd $5 25 I Ceiling, bath & porch lites 2 95 up Fireplace inserts H2 Medicine cabinets 24 in. Bath vanity ft top 25 in. Picnic table & benches Panel strips 3 = 4x8 18 Marlite Panels Cafe doors Passage locks Some items not available at Milwaukie but they have 20% off on wallpaper ft carpet 195.00 24 95 49 95 39 95 990 2 00 29 00 250 U-PAK BUILDING MATERIALS, INC. T '/ |O P E N 8a Sunday k ' SO UTHSIDF SOUTHSIDE 15123 SE McLOUGHLIN ; / M ILW AUKIE, 654 6508 forest Oreve-2329 FACIFK? 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Miss Allen has been an actress since 1971, has been pro du cing Black theater since 1974 and in 1976 started directing. She is co-founder and pro ducing director o f PBRT. The production o f "F o r Colored Girls . . .” is sponsored by the Port land Chapter o f the National Coun cil o f Negro Women and a grant from the MacKenzie River Gathering Foundation. Tickets are $5.00 and can be pur chased now at Opening N ight Cabaret. Call 231-I76O fo r reser vations. Put a hard-working Yellow Pages ad in the field and it will never forget to mention your address, phone number, credit cards accepted, or just about anything else you want included, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year. Doesn t stutter either. IT NEVER STOPS SELLING.
