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 »