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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 9, 1981)
Page 6 Portland Observar July 9.1961 Young, gifted, Black Former Portlander teaches, writes by Nathaniel Scott Former Portland resident. Luella C renshaw M cK ay , has recently published her book on American Blacks. (D etroit) - W ith pride, pleasure and appreciation I file this article from the m otor city because it presents to Portland and Oregon a native Portlander: Luella Cranshaw M cKay, a u th o r/p u b lis h e r of “ A m erica’ s Slave Descendants o f the House o f Israel” . Ms. M cKay, a ta ll, slender, graceful woman, obtained her fo r mal education in Washington and California. After that, she became a licensed instructor in Cosmetology; she m arried Jasper Lewis McKay(deceased) and had one son, Nicholas W illia m , who resides in C a lifo rn ia ; and she embraced the Bahai Faith, in which she received the distinguished title , “ Knight o f Bah’ u ’ lla h ” , fo r pioneering and teaching the Faith in Spanish Morocco, North West Africa. She holds many awards and is listed in Marquis “ W ho’ s Who o f American Women” , eighth edition, and “ W orld W h o ’ s W ho o f Women” , fourth edition. The book, “ A m erica’ s Slave Defendants o f the House o f Israel” , shows Blacks as Israelites. It is specifically aimed at the American Blacks — the descendants o f slaves. She said that she wrote the book fo r tw o reasons. “ F irst, so we (Blacks) could become cognitive o f our roots. And second, to know our purpose." She went on to say that “ we are the descendants o f Jacob, and his name was Israel, so we are the descendants o f Israel. And we are like the latent cream o f humanity.” Ms. M cK ay's book is laced throughout w ith verses from the Bible and in conversation she main tains that basic philosophy, but, the gist of her words goes much deeper. She said, “ We arc not in an environ ment that’s conducive to education. We are slaves to prostitution; slaves to drugs; and the churches are inef fective as far as 1 am concerned.” She said the Black man is progressing but he w ill never catch up because he is at the back o f society. And some o f the Blacks’ crim in a l plight (entering in to crim inal patterns) is becaue o f the unseen sin. “ The unseen sin is the power and principles taking away who we are; the taking away o f af firm ative action,” she said. “ Iden tity is very im portant because with identify we will become confident in ourvelves." "The 60s was a beautiful era, but we have gone back into our stupor. Our p o litic a l Black leaders have been attacked and dethroned. It is because we have been stymied. Let Black people ask themselves, ‘ Do we have affirm ative action? Are we progressing?’ We are stum bling around in darkness -- we are in a quandary.” The book, “ A m erica’ s Slave Descendants o f the House o f Israel" may or may not reach the charts o f the literary critics; it might not meet with religious sect approval. If the coming o f age is ever to be, it, as well as other books that dispense in form ation about a lost people (the Am erican Blacks) must be read, digested and accepted as in fo r- mataive information. Cell Talk By Asmar A bdul Seifullah Aka Joe West (W rite r’ s Comments: The fo llo w in g statements were taken from the testim ony o f D r. Della Henna, who testified as a expert witness in the recent prison over crowding case. The questions were asked by a lawyer representing Prisoners Legal Services o f Oregon. Dr. Della Henna talks about the in adequate medical services at Oregon State Penitentiary. He addresses the need fo r organization in the medical department and other issues but fo r this firs t installm ent we will focus on his testimony concern ing unlicensed medical technicians and the tasks they perform in the rhedical department.) Q. Can you te ll the C ourt whether or not fro m y o u r obser vations and examination o f records and other data whether, in your opinion, these unlicensed medical technicians are p e rform ing tasks that should only be perform ed by medical doctors? A. W ell, they are perform ing tasks - some o f the things they are doing should be performed only by doctors - yes. Q. Now, are there other types o f tasks that they could perform under the m edical supervision o f a physican? A. Yes. Q Can you elaborate briefly on what they are domy and what type o f supervision they should have? A. They are doing a number o f things. F irst o f a ll, they are screening inmate complaints during the dispensing o f pills downstairs near the control area in the m orn ing, and inmates come with various medical com plaints, and its ’ s through a door without any medical instruments, without any examina tio n table, w ith nothing except being able to talk to an inmate across a doorw ay. People are screening fo r specific com plaints and decisions are made as to whether they should see the doctor for that complaint. Again, there are no guidelines for this. And it’ s also an inappropriate way to make that decision. So they are in that capacity making diagnosis and diagnostic decision about the needs for treatment. Q. Is there any accountability in the work that they do to a physician? A. No. One o f the issues that I addressed was the issue o f whether there is any regular supervision o f staff or whether there is any regular audits or review o f medical records in performance of staff, through the medical records. And another thing which in dicated to me that Dr. Diaconi was not really aware of how these people performed was in his deposition he was unable to give the name o f the medical assistants And so that this activ ity which again is going on w ithout any w ritten guidelines or any directions with people doing it who have d iffe re n t backgrounds, who are not licensed. It’s also going on in a way that is unmonitored and unauthorized. (Z Now, they don'I even keep a Ion o f contacts each day, do they? A. There are several lists that are generated. But i t ’ s clear to me how many o f the activities is represented in these lists. There are lists fo r example, o f people who come to see the doctor in the clinic area. There is not a list or any entry in the medical records of an inmate that comes up with a complaint who may be dealt w ith by the medical assistant at the window, who never does get to the clinic. The decision for that inmate not to see the doctor might have been the wrong decision, but there is no reviewing o f that. There is no record o f that. (W riter’ s comment: Dr. Diaconi is the C hief M edical O ffic e r and C hief physician fo r Oregon State Henitentiary. The above illustrates the power o f unlicensed medical assistants at Oregon State Peniten tiary. It is clear indictment o f what can happen if and when that power is abused for whatever reason. Dr. Della Penna goes on to talk about the records kept on the actual wards.) Q. Doctor, let me ask you, did you have an opportunity to examine the records kept on the actual wards? A. Yes I did. And this is at the penitentiary? Q. Yes. A n d can you te ll the C ourt in y o u r opinion, whether those records are adequate records? A. They are also inadequate records. There were patients in there with complicated medical problems who might have been there for weeks and weeks, but during that period o f time they might have had a note from three doctors for two or three times. Again, inmates are also w riting in those records. And they did not contain any overall treat ment plan. There were patients that were on the ward fo r example, a man had been adm itted fo r chest pains the night before, yet, there was no admission history or physical or anything relating to the admission other than the reason why he was admitted there This is unacceptable practice. Q. Now sir, can you describe fo r us, what, in your view, would be the necessary tra in in g that the medical technicians should have that they currently do not have? A. Well, it's d ifficult to answer that question because at this point they are perform ing at so many levels. They are perform ing as physicians at some levels and therefore, a great deal o f training would be necessary in order to bring them up to that level. I would say that the physicians or the medical assistants, or the, let me rephrase that. I w ould say that many o f the activities that are being performed by the physicians or the medical assistants properly should be performed by registered nurses or physician assistants or nurse prac titio n e rs, and I th in k that they w ould have to have tra in in g that those classes o f individuals have, or the credential processes that they have met. Along this line, I would point out to you when I asked both the medical assistants, as well as the nurse at the penitentiary, about the continuing medicai education, they said there is no continuing medical education fo r ongoing services or teaching for the staff at the peniten tiary. (W riter’ s Comment: We will con tinue w ith Dr. Della Henna’ s testimony and that o f Dr. Gualitieri who also testified as expert in the case. This material is brought to you to broaden the picture o f the medical facilities at Oregon State Henitentiary.) program at no cost to the State. The bill passed the House with a 44-15 vote and went to the Senate M onday. It has been referred to Ways and Means, where supporters fear it will be shelved. Beware check protection plan The b u ilt-in checking account protection plan intended to prevent checks from bouncing is one o f the many services offered to consumers by financial institutions. “ An account protected by this type o f o verdraft service usually costs the consumer more than a regular checking account, and the bank will protect checks only up to a certain lim it,” says Marilyn Lunner, Clackamas County Extension agent. Those who have one o f these protective features w ith their checking accounts and find them selves relying on it regularly might be getting in to a debt problem butch caarç Phone: 284 1897 H O T C U T S S P E C IA L I [ I Vigil seeks prison visitation A vigil on the steps o f the Capitol Building in Salem will continue until the prisoner visitation bill is adopted on the legislative session ends. The bill would allow corrections officals to establish a fa m ily visiting give me the m o tiva tio n to take a stance here. 1 have noticed in my It’ s interesting how young people early life how cruel this w orld can view themselves and the w orld be How can I or anyone else stand around them. As a young person, 1 back and let things a ffe ct them view m yself as in te llig e n t, goal without saying or m aking any at oriented, proud; but most o f all, tempts to do something about it? Now, I know the question is, how young, gifted and Black. Young, G ifte d and Black; a can we. as young people, do theme that can never be over used, something? I t ’ s very simple: Take for all Black youth are gifted. The pride in ourselves and in what we do problem is that we as youth don t and positive things w ill come to us. Read, listen and become aware. I know it or utilize that knowledge. We should know by now that we guarantee you young people w ill can’ t depend on Hortland Hublic lend an ear. Another im p o rta n t th in g is to Schools or sim ilar instituions to teach us our heritage that indeed have a goal; the desire to strive for make us proud. We are going to something. I f you are young, gifted and Black or know someone who have to do it ourselves. Do you know what makes me the is, give me a call at: Urban League proudest? The walking historians in Northeast Youth Service Center at the Black community, who, unlike 288-6708, just so we young people the generation before me, are taking w ill know what we have going for a stance and holding ground. They us! By Mane Martin rather than protecting themselves against overdrafts. “ Face the fact that you are writing checks for money you don’ t have when you use this service,” Ms. l unner advises. “ You are, in effect, asking for a loan each time you use the protection. These loans may be easy enough to pay o ff now, but if you continually rely on them, your debt may continue to grow ." Using an o ve rd ra ft service, especially on a regular basis, is going further into debt. Consumers should stop this practice before the debt problem gets out o f hand. $15. IN T E R E S T IN G FACTS Brought To You Every Week B Y A MERIC A N STATE BA NK Although Franklin Roosevelt won all 4 of his presidential elections by big margins, he never carried his home county - Dutchess County, New York. • New Year's used to be celebrated on March 25 in the English speaking world until the present calendar was adopted in 1752. • Oddly, hardly anyone knows who w rote the w orld's most popular song, ''H appy Birthday To You." It was written by two forgotten sisters, Mildred and Patty Hill. zz zz z z zz z z z z z z $ $ z z z zz z zz z American State Bank AN INDEPENDENT BANK Head Office 2 7 3 7 N. E. Union Portland, Oregon 9 7 212 T Round Steak FULL-CUT U.S.D.A. CHOICE BEEF Bone-In TURKEY BUTTERBALL Swift's Deep Basted Young - Frozen U.S.D.A. Grade A 10 to 14 lbs. Cheddar Cheese KRAFT Medium 2-lb. Leaf HiHshire Farms 49 Smoked Sausage Original or Kieibasa ib *2 Bar-S Franks S? Mb Pkg 1 29 59 Hygrade Lunch Meats 5 Sliced Varieties 1 -lb Pkg *1 Hacienda < Burritos 3 Fresh Varieties IO-OZ Pkg 78 ea SE 20th ft DIVISION SE 72nd ft FLAVEL NE 15th Et FREMONT W BURNSIDE at 21st SAN RAFAEL 1910 NE 122nd Forest Grove 2329 PACIFIC Oregon City 878 MOLALLA Candy 1061 SW 1st LLOYDCENTER 19410 SE D IVISIO N 3965 SE POWELL NE 74th Et GLISAN HILLSBORO 3G0SEOAK T R □DB HE L 1 I
