Willie Brown speaks at award presentation
By Pau! McCoy
On ihe evening of May 15th, the
National Conference o f Christians
and Jews held its 3 1st annual
Human Relations Awards Banquet.
Ihe event was held at the Sheraton
Hotel near the Lloyd Center.
Gerry Pratt, a familiar name, was
the master ol ceremonies. Honored
were the Rev. Royald V. Caldwell,
Rev. John Jackson, Fred m ’
Rosenbaum and a guest speaker.
A n o n -p ro tit human relations
organization, the NCCJ founded in
1928 seeks to “ build bridges o f un­
derstanding among all groups, to
bring the forces ot enlightenment
and education to bear upon racial
and religious prejudice, and to
achieve im plem entation o f the
moral law.”
As the three recieve their awards
they were cited for their outstanding
contributions to the com m unity,
city, state and country. The three
men honored were short on words
but long on applause. Rev. Cald­
well, called “ M r. G oodw ill,” for
his outstanding jo b w hile active
director ot G o o d w ill Industries,
thanked his doctors, an Arab and a
Jew, stating "because if it were not
tor them, this Christian Protestant
would not be here.” the Rev. told
ot a conference he attended with
some 2,000 persons from every
place in the world. At this time he
was “ converted to the realization
there is one universal God and a
universal oneness o f his love all
people share.”
Rev. Jackson, who is involved in
many com m unity
and civic
organizations, received a standing
"
REVEREND JO H N JA C K S O N
round o f applause as he came before
the crowd, " t his is indeed a great
moment in my life.” He explained
that he at one time felt change was
impossible. He was quick to add
that "you must get into it to see why
it hasn't changed, then try to change
i t . " Rev. Jackson concluded by
saying, “ Even though things change
slowly, you do what you can in your
life time and leave the rest to the
people that follow .”
Mr. Fred M. Rosenbaum, an in­
surance man, was noted for his vast
contributions in the area o f housing
He is presently chairm an o f the
board fo r P ortland Housing
Counseling youth
By Kay A. Thomas
said.
Lance was greatly influenced by
Lance Thomas Sparks is a very the words o f Dr. M a rtin Luther
dedicated and devoted man. During King Jr., Malcolm X , and Eldridge
his early life extreme mobility was Cleaver. After seeing Martin, Ken­
necessary because his father, a naval nedy and Malcolm go down, he said
officer, was often transferred to d if­ ” 1 was convinced that gathering in
ferent states. He lived in states the streets wouldn’t really work, but
ranging from the east coast, to the that it would take a long and hard
west coast, and even travelled
struggle over a period o f time. What
abroad to M orrocco. These ex­
little success there is, is just a drop
periences "s a tis fie d a lot o f
in the bucket, and there’ s more
curiosities.”
work to be done now than in the
From these experiences Lance
beginning. There has been a
gained great knowledge about the backslide; a prime example is Black
way the world was structured. He unemployment. Things do kind o f
leli home at the age o f sixteen, never seem to be tranquil now with Black
to return again. A t that time, he progression, even more so than in
lived in Reno, Neveda where he was the later 60’s when there was con­
completely supporting himself. As tinuous national advancement.”
he grew older, he recalled some o f
Lance attended the University o f
his b itte r and confusing racial Nevada in 1960. In 1966, he
situations he encountered, especially graduated with honors and obtained
in the South. He recalls being able a B .A . degree in the study o f
to look down one block, and see English. At the present time, he also
w hite fam ilies w ith the best o f
holds a Doctor o f Arts degree from
houses, cars, and living happy and
the University o f Oregon which he
properous lives. Looking down the
received in 1976. This new degree
other block, he could see Black
program at the U niversity o f
families poverty stricken, and suf­
Oregon encompasses the Masters
fering, trying to make it any way
degree.
they could. Witnessing this tremem-
He is cu rre n tly an in s tru c to r,
dous disparity o f the black neigh­
counselor and the tu to ria l coor­
borhood, and the so-called high life
dinator for the Educational Oppor­
of the white neighborhood convin­
tunity Program at Portland State
ced him that something was wrong.
University. He thoroughly enjoys
Disturbed by these problems, he
his job. Working as a tutor for his
developed his ideas about being o f
program fo r the last tw o terms
service to people. Lance felt that
allowed me to realize how important
there was so much injustice being
his position is to him . For him,
done, that he designated himself to
"m o re in d iv id u a l success is not
fight against the cause in anyway
satisfying, it is much more fulfilling
possible. His assistance came in the
to help others reach their poten­
form o f non violent protest, and is
tials.” The tutorial program is going
presently helping the poor, the un­
to grow by next year. Lance says
fo rtu n a te , and socially deprived
that “ i t ’ s going to reach beyond
with their educational needs.
Portland State to the City. Assist­
While still in Reno, young Lance
ance w ill be given to high schools,
elderly people, veterans, students in
marched for the civil rights cause.
During the 60’ s, he participated in
the upward bound program, and
many o f the demonstrations staged
others, but it w ill not lose its
by Blacks; peaceful protest against
m inority focus.” He sees a bright
future for continued and better ser­
segregation and racism. He marched
vices to people.
in the San Francisco peace march in
The EOP Program w ill be having
1967, where there were Blacks,
its first class to graduate from Port­
whites, and many other groups o f
land State this spring. There will be
people marching side by side for the
thirty graduates and Lance is very
same cause. He protested along with
Blacks at the University o f Nevada,
proud o f them all. Lance feels that
where
he
attended
school.
the tutorial program he heads, con­
“ D iscrim ination was very openly
tributes greately to the entire
practiced there, not only at the
program . He said, " i f anybody
University o f Nevada, but univer
thinks he’ s done anything good,
sities that were structured to
wait u n til you see the students I
discriminate against Blacks. Due to
work with. They are going to knock
this higher educational syitem ,
you out! Like the story “ Billy Goat
Blacks weren’ t able to enter white
G r u ff’ wail until you see my older
universities. Whites became afraid
brother. The young people are more
o f the threat o f Black Power and
dedicated and determ ined. The
this caused an alm ost forced
struggle is not over, it has only just
modification o f the system,” Lance
began.”
A uthority. “ Providing reasonably
priced housing to r the citizens ol
Portland is my main concern.” His
voice is a fa m ilia r one when the
discussion involves low -incom e
housing and housing tor the elderly.
“ I would like to thank all those
people who let me lead, but who
also let me follow .”
The speaker, some paid one hun­
dred dollars to see, did not show up.
His name. Ted Kennedy. W illie
Brown was on hand to speak.
Brown started his career in politics
during the 60s when he was a civil
rights activist. This activity landed
him in ja il on several occasions.
Presently, he is a C a lifo rn ia
legislator on the Democratic side.
He stated at the beginning o f his
ta lk, that he would try and stay
away from politics but politics were
the bottom line.
Brown spoke ot the social
clim ate in this co u n try today.
"There has been a social revolution
in this country, you (Blacks) can
now vote, you can join us, we will
not kill you or lynch you. But, in
Butte County California, there is a
man running fo r congress who
makes no bones about being an ol
tic ia l ot the Ku Klux Kian, He
makes no bones while voicing his at­
titude concerning Blacks and other
non-w hites.” Brown stated that
Black people tolerate too much. He
pointed at unemployment statistics
lor Blacks, " I t is unjust and unfair
but we tolerate it.” On the subject
o f desegregation, “ today there are
more segregated schools than in
1954. We obviously have not come a
long way.”
What Willie Brown would like to
see m his life time are "Better living
conditions and not the need for
special laws to make sure I receive
my equal rights, I will already have
them." In his closing statement, this
intelligent, articulate man asked the
Lord to "grant me the courage and
wisdom to do as much as I can lor
people, and fu rth e r G od, grant
them the courage and wisdom not to
hale me lor doing this. Let us all sit
down and reason.”
Some 450 people attended the
banquet, about 25 were Black. Ihe
meal, by this reporter’ s standards,
was excellent. Ihe evening was
smooth and well planned and en­
joyed by all who attended.
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