Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 17, 1986)
j« ■- -r -*• —-— —. " ~ : <2.v • • * ? _ C ' 1 • • ;? » / j * • • . a :a ty ef PORTLAND OBSERNER (Left to Right) OBL A frican A m erican Econom ic Dinner participants Al W illiam s. General M an ag er Portland Observer and P resid en t/Fo u n der of JOBS M ag azin e and Portland Publishing. Co : Grover S tricklan d of Brofam Oil; Nya Turner, M BE FBE Specialist for JO B S Trade M ag azin e. A rt Teele. Jr , President. N ational OBL Joyce B row n. B rofam Oil; John Brown President of Brofam Oil. and Jerry G arner S ta ff R eporter. Portland Observer N ew spaper (Left to Right) Carl Talton of Pacific P ow er ft Light received the Excaliber A w ard . M a tt Chavis. I he C hairm an A w ard . Lenora Allison of Tn M e t. Bornie Foster of the Skanner. received the S u m m it t Volume XVI, Number 45 September 17, 1986 • .■ ' '■ -, '•< ■ ■ - X ■ •e '• A , More than 200 people attended the Oregon Business League's (OBL) first annual African American Economic Development Dinner" Tuesday at Shenanigan's Restaurant at Ports of Call Almost every African American business person in the Portland area attended the inaugural dinner sponsored by the OBL City Commissioner Dick Bogel. District 18 Representative Margaret Carter. Senator Bill McCoy former Multnomah County Commissioner Gladys McCoy, and Kenny Carr o, the Portland Trailblazers were among those in attendance The keynote address entitled. "African American Prospect for Progress free Enterprise or Dependency" was given by Arthur Teele. Jr.. President of the National Business League Teele told the mostly Black audience that African Americans must stop depending on White America for help and do more for themselves Many Blacks complain about what President Reagan is doing to African Americans in this country It shouldn't matter what tfie President is doing We as Black people have the resources to determine our own destiny African Americans spend over $160 billion a year in this country yot they spend only 6 cents of each dollar with Black owned businesses " Teele said this results in jobs leaving the Black community and a weak economic base within the community Teele also voiced his concerns about the lack of commitment by lending institutions in providing financial assistance to small business "If I can issue one plea tonight, I urge this groat community here tonight to re oxa mine the commitment of our financial institutions in this great state Bank ing and interstate banking regulations that are opening the state borders to other institutions necessitates whother you as entrepreneurs survive in a financial environment W e cannot afford to be discriminated against in tf.e market place." Teele is the 12th President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Business League He is a partner in the Sparber, Shevin, Shapo and Heilbronner, P A,, a Miami bssod law firm City Commissioner Dick Bogel urged the Black business leaders to con tact his office if they are interested in doing business with the city of Port land "I am trying to correct the city's dismal performance in utilizing mino nty and female business enterprises for professional, technical and expert services" Bogel said this is the first year in which the city has come close in meeting its goals in utilizing minority and female owned businesses He said the time for commiserating over these figures when they come out twice a year is over No longer will it be simply enough to say what a shame when we read them and continue with business as usual It’s time for actions re sponsible actions involving both leadership and team work " The national Business League (formerly the National Negro Business League) was founded by Booker T. Washington ,n 1900 The objective o, the National Business League is to eliminate tfie exclusion of African Americans and other minorities from the fabric of America's free enterprise became a judge in 1970, there was only one other woman jurist (Judge Jean Lewis) in the entire state of Oregon "It took a very long period before any more females were ap pointed to the bench. Today there are still only 10 women judges in the entire state. This is nothing to sing home about.” • , She said, "By increasing the number of ethnic minorities and wo men judges, we'll keep a balance in the state of not letting only White males sit on the bench " Although. Judge Diez stated, she would like to see a Black prepare him or herself to sit on the bench before she retires, she has no inten - » '• * V •,. \ • tion of retiring in the near future. 'I have been working since 1935 I .enjoy being a judge and cannot ima gine not going to work If I were to retire from the bench. I would be come a senior judge This would allow me to be called back to work Furthermore, I would open a law o f fice in downtown Portland," » ».* • • * ’ system and to serve as an advocate for business development and expan sion in the Black community. Today, the National Business League is a national federation of indivi duals. firms, and associations engaged in business enterprises With a growing membership in 37 states and the District of Columbia the National Business League's national network includes 127 chartered local cfiapters and a national coalition of association affiliates through its national council for policy review The National Business League's national office is headquartered in Washington. D C. The Oregon Chapter of the National Business League .T e V r X T h a 'p t e r * * 4* ’ 7 ï '* •. r by Jerry Garner P hoto by Richard J Brown s • 4 ' by Jerry Garner Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Mercedes Deli. . • A w ard ; Jim C ow en of Tri M o t OBL N atio n al Pre sident. A rt Tesla. J r.; Dr E C. O gbuobiri received the Booker T W ashington A w a rd and W illie Harris received the Nova A w a rd udge Diez Urges Blacks to Prepare for OBL Holds 1st (Career on the Bench African-American Economic Development Dinner position should prepare for it by practicing law and getting valuable trial experience She also encour ages them to become advocates for the community and strive to attain what she terms as judicial "temper ment By this, I mean one must stop being an advocate, to stop be ing an adversary (something one must be in order to be an effective lawyer), and figure out a way to sit there and be recognized for his or her impartiality, ability to follow the law and explain the law to every one." said Judge Diez. Judge Diez was asked why there are only two African American Cir cuit Court Judges in Multnomah County. She replied. "There are two main reasons for this First of all, in order to become a judge, one must be an attorney and have trial experience Unless one goes into partnership with a law firm or be comes a public defender, they must start their own law practice; this can be expensive. Secondly, there is an abundance of lawyers in Portland. Therefore, many minority lawyers especially African Americans, leave the state to earn a better living else where, or they go to work for the state, county, city or federal go vernment." Not only would Judge Diez like to see more Blacks as judges, she thinks females of all races are under represented on the bench "When I • Photo by R ichard J B row n Photo by Richard J Brow n Oregon's first African American female Circuit Court Judge urges Black attorneys to get the training that will enable them to qualify for a judgeship position Although the number of Afri can American men and women at tending law school and passing the bar has been on the increase in the last 15 years, there are still only two African American judges on the Circuit Court; myself and Judge Aaron Brown I am 68 years old It is time for some younger man or woman, (smiling) I would prefer a younger woman, to replace me on the bench when I decide to retire. '' Judge Diez said, although there are some Black attorneys in the community who are qualified for the job, she only sees one who is trying to become a judge "The only Afri can American I see at this time who is actively seeking a judgeship posi tion is Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Roosevelt Robin son. In my opinion, he would make an excellent judge " Judge Diez said African Ameri [ can attorneys seeking a judgeship . » i r. ' ’ • » * • 4 4 *. * % / 4 e • > 5. * • z VA ’ ,