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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 1983)
Bra- Frances Scaaen-few apaper lin i v e ra t t y tv jjn c , OSU on the mov Happy Birthday ¿»Charles Jordan Page 12 UJ o f y rc ^ o n .re fo n 974J3 Exploitation of Black music Page 3 Page 8 PORTL4ND OBSERVER LISPS 959-680-855 a L ib r a r y Volume XIII. Number 49 September 21, 1983 25C Per Copy < £ n r PtMuhtnt C » . lite I9»J Jordan fights for MBE Commissioner Charles Jordan pushed an amendment through City Council last Wednesday to insure that the C ity's regulation on m inori ty contracting is complied with, and followed it this week with an emer- passage of an amendment that will fine Todd $7,300 for each percent age point that he falls below ten per cent on minority participation. "T o d d told me he thought he could make 10 percent but could i that will allow him land International Raceway. The Rose Festival Association will spon sor Championship Auto Racing Track (C A R T ) racing in Portland if the raceway is upgraded One ordi nance establishes a $230,000 fund to begin work. $700,000 worth of ^ ^ ^ ' ■ i l l be sold, including the I. Another ordinance gives the authority to negotiate a he excavation and drainage BEST AVAILABLE COPY lissioner Strachan sought to ) work until concerns o f the ea neighbors over noise can zed, but M ayor Ivancic or the work to begin imme nse track must be ready by d if the rains come early it tse the cost by $82,000. n assured that the 10 per nority goal will be met. sioner Schwab expressed .ion (hat the financial penal- sntractors who do not meet lirement is to be applied to ruction contracts. >r mostly medicare. »rail, the cuts averaged 7 per ul some programs were cut Employment and training ns were reduced 60 percent I fO' disadvantaged, includ- ,th, was cut 35 percent. Pro- thal would have created public service jobs were elim re than 325,000 families lost Families with Dependent n (A F D C ) and from 325,000 WO had benefits reduced. out a million people lost elt for food stamps. School iarticipation was cut by 3 mil ome 700,000 fewer students J guaranteed student loans City Commiasiot Charlo* Jordan cal coramony namina Miss Vanessa W illiams, Miss America, has some other d if ferences from most o f the previous Miss Americas — she is speaking out on issues. Being M is* America was not Miss W illiam s' dream — she came by it accidentally. She entered the contest after a local pageant official saw her perform and after a professional theater production she was to ap pear in was cancelled. Her real goal is to be a Broadway star. Miss W illiams, 20, a jun ior at Syracuse University, has studied dancing since elementary school. Her parents, who are school music teachers, taught her piano, French horn and singing. Her fam ily rule was that the children study music at least until they were 18 year* old. A registered Independent, she favors a M artin Luther King H o li day, the Equal Rights Amendment and the right to abortion. Miss W illiams does not feel race was a factor in her selection. “ I was chosen because I was qualified for the position. The fact that I was Black was not a factor. I ’va always had to try harder in my life to achieve things, to this is regular. . , “ It shows that all things are pos sible. T o make it for any minority or any person, you’ve got to have a good education. I want people to re spect me and think I ’m better. I ’ m ambitious, I have a lot o f drive, and I work hard to get somewhere.’ ’ She added, “ A t times I get annoyed because people and the press aren't focusing on me a* a person and are because I'm Black doesn’ t mean I ’ m going to support every Black posi tion. I ’m my own person with my own opinions.” Miss W illiam * will receive a $25,000 scholarship and can make up to $100,000 through public ap pearance*. She hope* her title will help her achieve a career in show business. First runner-up was Miss New Jersey, Suzette Charles, 20, who also is Black. The Mis* America contest, now 62 year* old, banned Blacks from participation until the late 1950s. The lin t Black woman, Cheryl Brown o f Iow a, entered the contest in 1970. Benjamin Hooks, executive direc tor o f the N A A C P , compared the selection with Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in profes sional baseball. the political and business philosophy o f A rthur Palmer. Palmer is no or dinary Black businessman He is the foremost authority in the Northwest on Bantuism and has incorporated his belief as a Bantu into his busi ness practices. Palmer told the story like this. " I was approached three time* by a group o f Oriental gentlemen who said they would give me a good figure for my business. I asked them if they would give my grandchildren a good figure or i f they would give my people a good figure. They said they did not understand. I showed them our Bantu sign that meant the business belongs to the people. Until they understood that they would have to give my people a good figure there was no reason for them to try and buy (he Bantu L au nd ry/D ry Cleaners ” * Palmer's laundromat is located on 19th and Dekum. H e said he be came upset when he read an article which stated that Black businessmen all over the country were sailing their businesses (stores, laundro mats, etc.) to Southeast Asian* who are ready to buy. “ 1 think that is a shame. W e are selling our birthright. The busineases are being sold and are not getting handed down to other generation*. It would make more sense if we. the Black businessmen, would use our energy to bring the young in and teach them to take over our busi nesses. I f we permit our basic busi- VANE8SA EILLIAM8 Palmer also own* New Rose City Cab. He staled, "Years ago when we started fighting for the cab com pany, a Black man could noLdrive a cab in Portland. I have had the company for 12 years and I bought it for the purpose o f providing jobs. We don't look at our business by how much we make, but we look at it as making a living for ourselves — surviving.” A rthur Palmer live* and operates his businesses under the four pillar* o f Bantuism; “ The fist law is that you must always seek knowledge. "T h e second law is that you must have love and compassion to sepa rate us from the lower animals. “ The third pillar is that you must always stand for the truth. “ The fourth pillar is to have the courage to stand up for the above three laws.” "P alm er continues, “ I f you seek knowledge, you will become a pro ducer.” He said he was made aware o f the heroes in Black history by his par ents and grandparents “ I knew there was a Marcus Garvey before I knew there was President o f the United States. M y thought* have always been to A frica and my works have always been trying to create in comes for my people." Palmer said he want* his people to spend less time looking for a job and more time trying to create one. H e stated, " I n America, you have ! - - , CAkJCDC Arthur Palmar, owner of the Bantu Laundry/Dry Cleaner* and founder of the New Roee City Cab Co., tells Blacks “Don’t look for a job - create one (Photo: Richard Brown) an opportunity to create and make your own job. Business is the way. I f you would create your job you have a better chance for advance ment without others coming in and limiting your ability. The one thing about being in business is that you are limited to your own ability. M y advice to the Black man in America is don't look for a job as hard as you work to try to get a license to compete In business That is the American way and we should take advantage of it .” I .«an.. W -, « « V : ■ A »
