Oh God, where art Thou?
They took me out
To some lonesome place.
They said, “ Do you believe
In the great white race?*’
I said, “ Mister,
To tell you the truth,
I’d believe in anything
If you*d just turn me loose.*’
I
The white man said, “ Boy,
Can it be
You’re a-standin’ there
A-sassin’ me?’’
They hit me in the head
And knocked me down.
And then they kicked me
On the ground.
A klansman said,“ Nigger,
Look me in the face—
Ahd tell me you believe in
The great white race.”
The return o f white suprem
acy to the South following the
end o f R econstruction con
vinced m any B lack people
that they should go west. They
jo in e d the waves o f hom e
steaders who settled the mid-
western plains.
In m any areas they were
driven away and in others they
faced the same in tim id a tio n
and harassment they had gone
west to escape.
Langston Hughes
Klun members march near Vancouver, Washington.
m uLTnom A H c o u m v OREGon
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Black Business History with Multnomah County
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Multnomah County has had a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program since 1977. However, past
MBE opportunities have been limited. For example, until 1981 the County's MBE program focused only
on setting aside 10% of construction projects under $50,000 for minority firms. In that year Multnomah
County was one of the first local governments to increase the MBE construction projects to $100,000.
Yet participation by minority- and female-owned firms was not satisfactory to County Executive Don
Clark and the Board of County Commissioners.
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S ince N o v e m b e r, 1961, w ith th e e d o p tio n o f a M u ltn o m a h C o u n ty O rd in a n ce, th e re is a n e w
and exp anded M in o rity and Fem ale Businese Enterprise P rog ram w i t h . . .
Less Red Tape:
Multnomah County is accepting the
City of Portland's MBE and FBE certification
MORE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES:
★ To bid on construction projects
* To sell supplies
* To render services
★ To provide professional services
County Executive Don Clark invites M BE/FBE firms to find our more about these busines opportunities
and to learn how and what Multnomah County buys each year. Please contact:
Multnomah County Purchasing Division
SHERRY JA CO X, DIRECTO R/M BE OFFICER OR DON EICH M A N, A S S T. DIRECTO R/M BE OFFICER
2505 SE 11th AVE., PORTLAND, OREGON 97202 (503) 248-5111
Portland Observer February 25, 1982 Page 9