Portland Observer, July 10, 1966, Page 3
EMMA S KITCHEN
METROPOLITAN
SOUL FOOD
k
Percival Everett writes third novel
b y N a th a n ie l S co tt
p o rta n t to the story.
* V ,
" I f I had m ade
ists a re no t s p ro u tin g lik e leaves o n
the characters B la c k . ev eryon e w o u ld
trees, b u t at least on e such w rite r liv
have p a id a tte n tio n to th at fact an d
ing in the P o rtla n d area is m a k in g
missed th e s to r y ,” E v e re tt su rm ized .
" W a lk
h im s e lf k n o w n o n the litera ry scene.
P erciva l
«s
erett said racia l id e n tity was n o t im
B lack A fr o -A m e r ic a n m a le n o v e l
E v e re tt
has w ritte n
tw o
n
M e to th e D is ta n c e ”
<4
is a
lo ve story. T h e c e n tra l ch a ra c te r, a
novels: " Z u d e r , " the story o f a Black
V ie tn a m W a r veteran w hose n a m e is
baseball p la y e r, an d his latest " W a lk
H a r o ld , tries to fin d a place fo r his
Me
d iso rien ted life . H is search takes h im
1329 N.E. Fremont •
to a place called
Tuea.
to
the
D is ta n c e ,"
an
in tn c a te
love story w ith o u t racial id en tity.
E v e re tt
first
ca m e to
O re g o n
in
" S lu tis
H o le "
in
W y o m in g . W h ile th ere he m eets and
1978 an d a fte r liv in g here fo r tw o
becom es a m e m b e r o f a sheep-raising
years, decided to m a k e P o rtla n d his
fa m ily . E v e n tu a lly , th ro u g h the u n
h o m e in 1984 T h e la n d , the outdoors,
fo ld in g o f th e tale, he becom es the
the clim a te a n d th e people were the
foster pare n t o f a 7 -y e a r-o ld g irl fro m
reasons
V ie tn a m .
T h e h o ld e r o f a m a s te r’s degree.
T h e re are m a n y w o n d e rfu l c h a ra c
E v e re tt w ill teach A fr o -A m e r ic a n lit
ters in the n o vel, in c lu d in g the one-
e ra tu re at the U n iv e rs ity o f K e n tu c k y
legged
at C o v in g to n , K e n tu c k y , this com ing
w h o takes H a r o ld in . her “ id io t " son
year. In the m ean tim e, he is w o rkin g
an d three in teresting w o m e n , tw o o f
on his th ird novel.
E verett is no t w h a t yo u w o u ld call
w h o m are prostitu tes.
a " r a d ic a l” w r ite r , bu t he does have
veteran an d th e setting w as th e vehicle
his o w n style, as w ell as his p a rtic u la r
he used to alien a te th e ch ara c te r ( H a r
ideas a b o u t w r itin g , an d is concerned
o ld ) fr o m his su rro u n d in g s .
mistress o f the sheep ranch
E verett has th a t in tro sp ective lo o k .
" I s it (lite ra tu re ) w ritte n b y B lacks,
H e gives the im pression all life is seri
o r is it (lite ra tu re ) a b o u t B lac ks? " he
ous an d seems to ch allenge the w o rld
asked. A s a teach er, E v e re tt's c o n
cern fo r th e genre is o f a m o re p r o
w ith his steady gaze.
H e refused to e x p la in o r d e fe n d his
fo u n d n a tu re . H e questions te rm in o l
w ritin g
ogies such as B lack lite ra tu re w h ich he
w ith w rite rs ), b u t he d id say, " W h e n
(a
rath er
com m on
practice
said, “ G e n e ra lly does a disservice to
you read novels w n tte n by w h ites they
B lack w riters a n d p eop le o f all races.”
d o n ’ t have to id e n tify th e ir characters
In " W a l k M e to the D istan c e, E v
as w h ite .”
presents
Special of the Decade
A
E verett d o esn’t have a m agic f o r
m u la
fo r w ritin g
bu t a ttrib u te s
sto rytellin g a b ility
to
an
w o m en
his
W h a t the V ie tn a m revenge m ovies
lik e
R a m b o c o u ld
have
fo u g h t
the
w a r th eir w a y , the m y th goes, A m e r
are
selling
these
en o rm o u s
S o th e questions re m a ia s , an d the
argu m ents rage, w h eth er o r no t w h ite
p h ilo s o p h y.
A m e ric a co ntinues to keep th e Black
H e w o rk s a great m a n y ho urs each
d a y b u t it's no t alw ays at th e ty p e
fo r p o litic a l reasons even th o u g h such
w rite r. T o
is an
perceptive B lack w o m e n novelists as
especially
" B la c k w o m e n are the o th e r h a lf o f
E v e re tt, " th in k in g
im p o rta n t aspect o f w r itin g .”
One
lite ra ry
co n ce rn ,
Joyce
C a ro ls
Thom as,
p ro c la im :
E verett said w ritin g a no vel is really
E verett ap proaches the subject fro m
in vo lv ed because he spends a lo t o f
a d iffe r e n t, i f n o t a n e w ,
tim e
feels
th at
m any
perspec
p o te n tia l
th in k in g
about
p ro m o tin g
In " W a lk M e to th e D is ta n c e ,” E v
business an d
search fo r love an d id e n tity d e fin ite ly
B u t, he a d d e d ,
n a tu re .
" S o m e th in g
we d o
have to face is the fact th at
Black
(F o rm erly of G le m b y Salon)
H a ir a ty lia t................................................................................................. D a rle n e Loving
M a n ic u ris t ...............................................................................................
G w e n H u tto n
issues he w ants to p ro m o te .
erett's
th at
B r a i d s .......................
the
in to o th er directio ns: m ed ic in e , la w ,
fields o f
Now aat of nalla
H ila .....................
Manicure ..........
w h o w e (B la c k pe o p le) a r e .”
Black m ale w riters being published .
He
Eyabrow w a x ................................
C u ria ...............................................
Shampoo, Mow dry. atyla ft cut
m ale in the Black w o m a n 's shadow
Black m ale w riters are being ushered
have in c o m m o n is w h ite w o u ld -b e
w riters
d a y s .”
a m o u n t o f read in g an d the study o f
liv e.
I f o n ly lo yal A m e ric a n w h ite m en
You have your own style, following your own rhythms and
keeping right in step. You have an air that is uniquely you I
Say "dramatic and sleek" in classic waves, or "lovely and
chic" in lively curls. And for you nails, we have the system to
put them in place.
N O V E L IS T P E R C IV A L E V E R E T T
a m o n g B lack scholars, is the lack o f
Vietnam revenge movies
b y R o b e r t L o th ia n
Sat. 6a m. - 12a m.. Sunday 1 p.m. - 12a.m .
Closed Monday
Looking Good Salon n
It
E verett said he is no t a V ie tn a m
a b o u t the usage o f B lack litera tu re.
Tamales
Hot dogs
Bar-B-Que Ribs
Hamburger
Cheeseburger
Homemade Soup
French fries
Grilled Cheese
Sandwich
Eggs, Bacon
Sausage
Fried potatoes
Grits
D inners
Cook's Choice
c h a ra c te riza tio n
of
a
m a n 's
Looking Good Salon
accom plished this goal: p ro m o tin g an
superheros w h o slaughter Southeast
ica w o u ld have w o n . W e 'd be rid in g
926 Lloyd Center
A sians by the hu nd reds.
ta ll in th e saddle ag ain ju st lik e in the
Phone:282-8110
A rm e d to th e teeth w ith th e latest
go od o ld days, an d w e w o u ld n 't have
A m e ric a n d e ath te ch n o lo g y fo r covert
to ta ke an y c ra p fr o m C u b a n s , N ic a
ac tio n s,
raguans o r M id d le E astern terrorists.
Sylvester
S ta llo n e
B lo o d ” an d " R a m b o -
( “ First
First B lo o d
b o 's ex C O
in A c tio n ," parts one and tw o), single-
" T h e o ld V ie tn a m is d e a d , R a m b o ,
h a n d e d ly set to d o w h at the A r m y
forget
an d A ir F o rc e w ere u n a b le to ac c o m
long as he is a liv e , V ie tn a m is alive.
it."
"R am bo
fr o m
'N a m
Ram bo
is a
replies
w ar
that
m ach in e
as
that
L ittle m a tte r th at th e U .S . p u lled
c a n ’ t be tu rn ed o f f , ” S ta llo n e said in
an in te rv ie w . T r u e r w o rd s a b o u t post
T h e racism a n d g e no cidal h ate behin d
WW
th e trag edy th a t was V ie tn a m live in
p a ra n o id , m ilitaristic m in d it spaw ned,
th e sick
m ind s o f these rig h t w in g
w im p s
fo r
losing
the
w a r.
T h a t ’s
I I A m e ric a , an d the d e fo rm e d ,
were never sp oken. R a m b o is a w a lk
ing W o r ld W a r T h re e .
T h e V ie tn a m
p o p u la r, w h ich says so m e th in g ab o u t
yo u , M u r d o c k ,” comes in: In spite o f
the
C I A agent M u r d o c k ’s games an d in
tio n a l
p e rs o n a lity .
te n tio n a l
co m ic
books
d o u b le
cross,
priso n c a m p
R am bo
re
a V ietn am ese
to c o n fro n t
him
w ith
som e le fto v e r P O W s .
post 1984
tio n a l co rd
the m assacre o f dozens o f
R eag an -in s p ired
That
new
an
em o
heros strik e
w ith
the
m o s tly
’
With a little less luck,
I could w in a fortune.
à
'
w h ite ,
m ostly teenage m ales in the audience
V ie tn a
an d
N o rris
get as they
blast a w a y
at " th e g o o k s .”
W h e n these yo un g m en in th e a u d i
p relu de to R a m b o ’s righteous sh o w
ence, a fte r re tu rn in g h o m e fr o m som e
d o w n w ith M u r d o c k . T h e audience
fu tu re crusade in N ic a ra g u a , o r the
In
4
U
na
these
mese an d R ussian soldiers is bu t a
it:
.
is eviden t in the cheers th a t S ta llo n e
D e s tru c tio n o f a n en tire h a m le t an d
gets o f f o n
• I
revenge m ovies are
w h ere R a m b o ’s " I ’ m c o rn in ’ to get
turns v ic to rio u s fr o m
‘
tells h im ,
ou t o f S aig on in d e fe a t 10 years ago.
cretons w h o b la m e th e b u re au c ra tic
issue.
A t a crucial p o in t in th e film , R a m
P a rt 2 ” ) an d C h u c k N o rris ( “ M issin g
plish — w in th e V ie tn a m W a r .
* >
the p a ra m ilita ry
P h ilip p in e s , o r the M id d le E a s t, sit
m y th , M u rd o c k is a ll o f those o ffic ia l
in th eir w heel chairs a n d p o n d er the
bunglars w h o p layed politics an d lost
w ar trag edy o f th eir g e n e ra tio n , w ill
the w a r to c o m m u n is m .
they rem em b er the w a y th ey cheered
• . •
.. : n *
M ' •
fo r R a m b o , w h o p re p a re d th e ir d e
Y o u r frie n d s h ip is
his A m e ric a n d re a m .
V
struction?
8 *
R a m b o seems the k in d o f m y th ic
hero a p p ro p ria te fo r A m e ric a n o w —
a sexy messiah w ith b u lg in g muscles
saving fa t an d fia etd A m e ric a fr o m
F’ ,
its g u ilt over gen o cid a l w ars, an d to
9
save us fr o m fa c in g up to o u r ro le as
.a?
the b u lw a rk o f reactio n an d stifier o f
progress in the T h ir d W o r ld .
W h a t can we lo o k fo rw a rd to w ith
R am bo
T h re e
—
R am bo
la w I « h *» u l * e lr m < trrg n n «
(krrgusi I <Harry '• Orsi |*,o n n «Hn n r r
trash ing
terrorists in the M id d le E a s t, R a m b o
in N ic a ra g u a , R a m b o sin g le -h a n d e d ly
Since hi* f in i
A ngli*h lr*«on*.
Torrv
ha* dream ed of *i*it»n«
A m e n ta T h i* year hi* dream « «un»
tn»r Torry i* one of hundred* of
Fnftlnh *|w*doiiK European «Indent*
eho*en b* I*.dot attortili houiuLtHUi
for Foreign Study for a high *<h<«>l
*ear with an American tamil*
Through the effort* of hundred* of
fch volunteer* worldwide
*oung
people like T o rn have been alile to
realize th e ir dream * ( >|wn </our
h i*n i U> a ie n / rprtYöi Mencùhip
//«Mt I.n A A n rh o n g r ttudrnt
( all u* immediately to di*cover how
yon can ho*t a European Mudent in
o v e rc o m in g
the
b u re au c ra ts
an d
sh o o tin g an M X at M o s c o w ?
T h e tren d is perh aps s h o w n in the
C huck
le n c e ."
N o rris m o v ie , " C o d e o f Si
H e re
Chuck
brings
hom e
fr o m th e ju n g le som e o f th e m ach o
violence needed to clean u p th e cities.
H e lakes on L a tin o a n d Ita lia n d ru g
s< > exclaimed Mr Lou Lucas of
Salem alter sunning an instant IS.tXX)
In the ( )regi >n I • 'tiers I rue. he said n
with a grin i in his late siren lung from
sea i<> sea Hut maybe he wasn i all
kidding
II. lor instance, he si Ix-en nisi a
little less lucks and won f Itltl. b e d
then be eligible I' >r a chance l<> spin
the < iiani las k p >( Wheel h >r up u .
miilu >ns i it sli illars m. ire
Sorrs Lou Guess you II |usi Hass'
ii i bus a in kei I.ir the ( )reg< m la.tiers s
new game Hie Skys The Limit Only
this time try not to cross your lingers
s|iiiie s< i hard
a
% . •
W ith "T h e Sky'» th e l i m i t ' , you sail
now w in up Io *1 0 .0 0 0 instan tly.
4
Anil the odds are belier than 1 in
io that sou II w in something
pushers an d w im p s in th e C h ic a g o p o
lice fo rc e. H e does it a ll singlehand
IN S TA V I I’K IZI NIKI ( I I Kl
lUscsl on .ipprt isinuiels An null.".. ih kets in the ( .-true I
e d ly , o f course, an d blo w s a w a y d o z
ens o f
L a tin o s
an d
Ita lia n s
in
process.
your home
’ ..........
the
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So lar user i l l ) m illion has Ix-en
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OQEGOH
fia
LOTTH3Y
A l E F , f r ie n d s h ip
is o u r la n g u a g e .
iHiFtrfun
H>AI«Z* ARTY K*
I Wr^n Ueters
zm’ 22nd* *r
fi) Uri l<*l*
saVn. « '• 9-W»
i*O1l IT» **4*
Call Lu rione S h a m a u d D in
a t 281 3 7 1 6
I d in j t n m .ll L i H i l n l . I t .......
g a l
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tor Forrign Stink
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