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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 16, 1979)
’’ ■ V e P o rtla n d O b s erver T h u rs d a y . A u g u s t 18. 1973 Behind the W all l 'G A f ê ! ¡f§ é s ¡ i The by Larry Baker »35021 O.S.P. Correspondent B R O W N S U G A R IN P R IS O N She is young, educated, articulate, elegant, graceful, polished, refined, spirited, fashionable, beautiful and Black. Her name— LaVern Davis. When asked what purpose it would serve to demonstrate the latest in womens fashions, especially in a visiting room jam-packed with Black prisoners at O.S.P.?, her answer was direct and precise, “ since this prison holds the second largest population ol Black people in Oregon, and they are all men, then we must come and place the Black woman back into our mens eyes.” “ Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to yo u ," said the soft, elec trifying voice of LaVern Davis, “ the LeLroupe E xtra ordin aire Oregon International." Suddenly arousing applause sti mulated the room with the sound o f classical jazz in stereophonic sound playing in the background. As this C orrespondent settled back with the feeling that each o f his lellow inmates were about to be en tertained for two solid hours by some of the most expensive tastes in the latest clothing modeled by Oregon’ s lop Black models. “ Brown Sugar," announced Ms Davis, as a tall sleek coconut-colored s in k in g Black woman strolled down the aisle in a stride that demanded the attention ot her mass audience, “ better known as L iz ," continued Ms Davis, "is wearing a sweet peach and nectar dress, with the popular sexy double side split, with gathers at the shoulders and sleeveless. As she walked center stage, Ms Davis continued, " L iz is a Gemini, employed as a secretary, likes tennis. chess and people I oves to I ravel to new places and meet new laces. Hey guys! How would you like to wake up in the morning with Brown Sugar served with col lee, lea or n nlk?" A n othe r loud roa r, mixed w ith whistles and howls, came from the crowded room fille d w ith Black prisoners. AS THE EVENING PROGRESSED I here was Katheleen Smith, pro fessional model, wearing a creamy beige 2-piece suit, beige blouse, wuh shoes and clutch bag to match. Merrthn Parker, sporting a blue halier evening dress made o f silk with a slight Hare in the skirl, is em ployed as assistant director o f a child care center. Debbie Hicks, who was the 1974 Miss Black O regon— today a professional model and employed in the office o f Portland C ity Com missioner Charles Jordan— received a standing ovation. Sandra Coleman, 1977 Soul Train winner, is a student in cosmotology at University Beauty School. Sanda Coleman (Sandra’ s tw in) also a student at University Beauty School, loves to dance, sing and rap. M agdaline Bnster, nicknam ed ’ Dimples,’ a student in art, delighted the inmates by wearing a carribean blue halter wrapdress with an uneven hemline. Carrie Moore, a professional dress designer, drew praise modeling with Lorett Johnson, the latest in tennis wear. Debbie King, stunned the room with a midnight blue metallic, long sleeve rippling knit brocade dress, that clung and swayed with her every step. Bernice Farris, brought along the latest business look for women with a bone colored 2 piece suit, split and pleaied, a gold blouse and a coordi nated scarf in pink. A ll Black ladies from Portland, a product o f Oregon's finest. THE NIGHT'S NOT OVER YET LaVern Davis brought with her a special treat—a group o f Black pro fessional men modeling the best in mens wear. Immediately out came pencils and pads by many o f the Black inmates who waned to check the price lags and feel the material. Stan Johnson, assistant director at P ortland C om m un ity College, walked into the room wearing a gold and grey jacket with white polyester pants, black shirt, and grey lizzard- sk in shoes. Prison Poets Julius Snowden, l.d u o r Childwoman Walking SOLAR SCRUMS DON'T COST...THEY SAVE! • Ibdu 70-75% «4 «*» l.nmu • *<* • • s*"» end can «w raw i* «• X>% «4 r*» aMr'» bME% fcA I I ai » 11 V n 1 ’ -" , ■ |G R e Y \ HOUNDl FOR ENOGT SAVING OfTAAS CALL I I I I SOLA* SCRUMS UNLIMITER P. O. Bax 42404 P«r9ta»d, Or. 9720 2 m c «4 u < t 2 3 9 - 7 7 6 7 ENERGY. W e c a n 't a ffo rd to w a s te it. I racing ! m ayiith I THRU| A U G .I8 T H P O S T T IM E AT7 3 0 P M ! I eo G A r L , vndibnned ( lut» ‘ >kyv*»w ■ «n P ortland ■ nst f ? ? 3 J ru ' ' « N rd a irta nd rs.nsoy Halsey S‘ J'r" 'I- ' ' , ' I "R a c in g Monday th ro u g h Saturday children under I,' not a d m itte d ■ Hacing Monda» th ro u g h Saiurday ™ IM U T N O M A H I |WENNO<WB| "The PRODUCE CENTER of PORTLAND" • GRAVENSTEIN f northwest grown : APPLES 29 "The best appia . for Pi*.».". . lb. RED HAVEN n .; . J 5 ’ 5J • PEACHES HARMONY FREESTONE SLICING PEACHES w 29* : DRIED BROOKS FRÜHES >59 • a - Next came Jerry ’St. Louts' John son, a law student at PSU, decked uut in a brow n 2-piecc double- breasted suit with wide lapels, french cut while shirt, brown tie, and brown and gold tip shoes. 1 ast came Ralph T he Man ’ Davis (LaVern Davis' husband), M u lt nomah County Correctional officer and graduate o l Oregon Police Academy, who on this night was celebrating a tilth wedding anniver sary. Ralph blew the inmates' minds by modeling a grey 2-picce single- breasted pin-strip suit, with a slight Hare in the pant legs. It had the taste ol a businessman—in an expensive manner. When the Black inmates honored each ol the models with a 'certificate ol appreciation,' there were tears in their eyes I his is not the normal en tertainment found at O.S.P., but it happened. And it w ill be remem bered by every man dressed in faded blue denim with laces ol Blackness and sporting a number, lor a long time to come. At least that’ s the way this Correspondent sees it. — — V -— — PICKLINC CUKES ASS T SIZES FRESH DAILY lb. 19‘ O l l i PICKLES HOMESTYIE FOUSM and KOSHER (,om STEINFEIDS — ____________________ • GREEN BEANS FRESH, BLUE LAKE .39‘ FlOCHMANSMKO MUSTARD 99 48 ei JAR lO’/a ei. bettle BULK SEEDLESS 29<: R A IS IN .......... ,b. CORNED BEEF $149 *1<* • NORWEGIAN JARLSBERG SWISS CHEESE 5 ^ 5 9 lb. lb. HIKES OOOO THEM SAT AUO IE. 1979 A . ¡1 , i SHI ERIDAN FRUIT Co. 8.1. UN IO N 1 » OAK Hut sand is sand and prints it lakes anti really no one else has made these I leave behind Gracefully, Atone on the beach. Her curb black hair blown in the breeze— t h is G o o d lo» tll't'-s-,.,».' , ■ «»n<l yuOAl f Vrihie >1 2 9 5 -9 3 8 3 I he memory is evidence of one fo rm and I leave another E Her hands in her jacket pockets, strolling the sand just as not so long ago d ill her o wn lost brother X O D U S Ihev are both treasures. '• / / < / A,-/g.im r( Robert Benjamin I rankiin u r t r / JF tccr///ten / 7' 'eei/et 1 5 1 8 N E K ILL IN G S W O R T H B ell, the tune did pass as they said: Have I grown wiser and accepting as they suut I would? To t 'arol P O R TL A N D If I had not known C arol’s eves Perhaps the da vs would be easier to understand and gentler to me If I hadn ’t memorized the sounds She made while close to me I might have fille d my memory Hut as it is M v memory o f C arol’s eves •I m l the sound o f her voice Make me smile I remember Carol's eves Screams from within the voice that cries, gainst the flame called frustration: "N ever” ! And she lingers on the path he once took — Only this time it's a different strand and different w aters tap the shore. by Fdward H Smith »41546 OREGON 9 7 2 1 1 284 7997 AUGUST On A s p iratio n /R e s p o n s ib ility No bird soars to o high if he soars w ith his o w n w ings. W illiam Blake On C onservatism People are conservatives w hen they are least vigorous, or w hen they are m ost luxurious. They are conservative a fte r dinner. Ralph W aldo Emerson YOUR NEWEST Q u a s a r DEALER On C onservatism W h a t is conservatism ? Is it n o t adherence to the old and tried aaainst the nevv and untried? ’ w 7 2 8 N .E . K illin g s w o r th S t . A braham Lincoln 284-0906 On A ncestry invites you in to look around A N D r o USE OUR EASY PU R C H ASIN G PLAN ON THE FO LLO W IN G : B. ’S Re/rigs. Radios Ranges Stereos Freezers Dryers Washers C. Q uasar m akes »elevision s p e c ia l a g a in Televisions M icrow aves Ovens C om pactors B uilt-ins S h e ’s p r e g n a n t . S h e ’s d e s e r t e d . S h e n e e d s h e lp . S h e s h o u ld c a ll 249-5801 Birthright tree confidential counseling lor pregnant girls «023 N E Halsey Just o il Sandy Blvd I d o n ’t k n o w w h o m y g randfath er w as; I am m uch m ore concerned to k n o w w h a t his grandson w ill be. A braham lincoln On Talk W o rd s once spoke can never be recalled. W e n tw o rth D illon, Earl o f R oscom m on On T ru th Be so tr u e to th yse lf as you n o t be false to others. Francis Bacon Some Credit Available Instantly On Weekends HOURS to « MON TMURS 10 9 FRI 10 6 S *T CLOSED SUN § On Tim e Tim e ripens all th in g s; no person is born w ise. Cervantes V H' H - i L l . - ,
