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PORTLAND OBSERNER
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Volume XVII, Number 3
November 26, 1986
250
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Alexander Says Cable Good For Community
by Jerry Garner
All too often the views and issues pertinent to Black American* are not
presented in the mass media system Indeed, the mass media —radio, T V
and newspapers are often guilty of not focusing on the critical issues
facing millions of African Americans
"This is why community cable T V. access is a valuable instrument for
Blacks in Portland It's vital, because we (Blacks) don't have access to
commercial television; because we aren't considered an influential portion
of the market in this tow n," said Art Alexander
Alexander is an assistant to Commissioner Mike Lindberg and has ex
tensive experience in radio and T V. communications He worked for three
and a half years at Rogers Cable Systems doing mostly news and public
affairs on Black community television, and three years as a radio and tele
vision producer at public station KOAP. Channel 10 Alexander can be
heard on KBOO radio from midnight to three every other Saturday His
show is called Saturday Night Jamm".
Alexander said while at Channel ,0 and Rogers he presented his news
and programming from a Black perspective
"Anyone could look at the
programs and see that they were from a Black viewpoint Usually when the
media talks about culture or civilization, they re speaking of European civil
ization."
Alexander said he considers himself a futurist and realizes while working
at Rogers that community access cable would be the thing in the future for
Blacks. "I saw cable as technology of the future, something that would
allow Black people access to a part of the media which they have been shut
out of for a long time."
He said community access cable allows Blacks to give their perspective
about issues that affect them. "Cable allows us to do this anytime we
want, and as often as we w ant."
Alexander was asked whether he felt that the Black print media in Port
land was presenting the Black perspective He replied, "I feel that the Black
newspapers in Portland follow and present Black community issues How
ever, the newspapers are businesses This is the main difference between
them and community television. Given the constraints of commercial
enterprise, I think both Black papers make good efforts to cover issues of
concern to the Black community But we all can do more."
Alexander said he hopes that people in the community would let Rogers
know that they want Channel 23 to continue He also said that the commu
nity should also utilize cable access at Portland Cable Access "It's free
Anybody can go there, produce anything they want, and discuss anything
they choose. The only thing a person must do is invest their time The
equipment is available for them."
Alexander, who is a native of Brooklyn, New York, and a graduate of
the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, said his move to Portland in 1977
was an enlightening experience culturally. "Coming to Portland was signi
ficant in that I had always considered myself politically aware But I didn't
consider myself as being a nationalist or a pan Africanist In the early part
of my life, I considered myself primarily an American who happened to be
Black. When I came to Portland, I met a brother named Oscar Murray He
started to challenge my perspective on my position as a Black man in
America."
"He introduced my to people at the Black Education Center, people like
Joyce Harris and Ronnie Herndon
Art Alexander
Photo by Richard J Brown
"Within seven months after moving to Portland, my politics evolved
The new information I received enlarged my perspective on the world and
Black people's position in the world Before this awakening, I considered
myself an American with African ancestors. I wasn’t conscious of the
Black Diaspora and the concept tha’ we (Blacks! could be conceived as
African people who are spread out all over the planet."
As a commissioner's assistant to Mike Lindberg. Alexander is respon
sibile for a wide range of work As a liaison, he is assigned to a number of
bureaus or topic areas Alexander must keep track of the events that occur
in those topic aieas. His primary responsibility is to tha bureaus to which
Commissioner Lindberg is responsible "I have a lot of Parks and Recrea
tion responsibilities I am also the liaison to the Bureau of Risk Manage
ment, These are the two bureaus for which I am directly responsible."
Although Alexander is responsible for issues pertinent to Parks and
Recreation, and Risk Management, he must also keep track of other issues.
This is because each commissioner must vote on issues that affect different
bureaus "Each commissioner must vote on issues that come before City
Council. For example, if a police issue should come before City council,
although it may be Bud's (Mayor Clark's) bureau, Mike (Commissioner
Lindberg) has to vote I must keep Mike informed about any given issue
coming before Council that deals with the police."
Alexander must also see that Commissioner Lindberg's policies are imple­
mented by bureau managers, and on some occasions, he must write
speeches for the Commissioner.
Alexander said he enjoys his job as a commissioner's assistant "I like
the job because on a given day there may be a variety of things you must
deal with. You could be in one meeting were you spend an hour working
on developing some youth protects, and the next meeting could be on re
writing the City Code on delinquent assessments and liens."
Alexander was asked whether he has any plans to run for elected office
in the future He replied, "I like being a liaison. There is nothing I see about
running for public office that suggests that it's something a sane person
would really want to do
It’s a demeaning experience, because getting
elected has nothing to do with serving Getting elected is essentially no
different than selling dog food It has nothing to do with the truth or vision,
it has to do with your ability to convince the people who will go to the polls
to believe about you, so they will go into the booth and pull the lever with
your name on it."
Alexander urges Blacks to prepare themselves for the future through
education. "M y parents were very serious about education. They used to
say this about learning, ‘No matter what you have in your brain, they can
not take it away from you. They can take away material things, but not
your knowledge’ ."
He said education is a life long process and that everybody should do all
they can to read "They should read a wide variety of material especially
on Black culture W e must be informed to have a thorough level of self
respect And in the process of informing yourself, you must accept the
good with the bad. Maya Angelo once said the worst thing you can do to
a Black child is to fill their heads with the notions that everything is perfect
in Africa; that everything African is good."
Alexander also said that the future of Blacks will ultimately be deter
mined by our role as African people on this planet "The highest goal we
can have as a people is the unification of the continent In the long run, I
don't expect there to be much more of an improvement in the situation of
Blanks in America. Throughout my study of civilization, I haven't come
across a minority group, especially an easy identifiable minority group,
that has ever achieved equal status with the majority population. It's not
human nature to do that "
Alexander said this doesn't mean that people shouldn't try to work to
gather. " It ’s important to understand that being pro Black doesn't moan
you have to be anti anybody else."
Ezak Associates Seek Capital For Expansion
by Jerry Garner
Ezak Associates, Ltd , a Portland based computer consulting firm and
manufacturer, is seeking venture capital in an effort to market its
Dataguard "W e are offering 3 percent shares for $10,500," said Or Eras
mus "Chuck" Ogbuobiri
Dr Ogbuobiri is principal consultant for Ezak
Associates
Dr Erasmus "Chuck” Ogbuobiri.
The Dataguard, a trademark of Ezak Associates, ensures that computer
equipment is continuously protected from all types of power supply distur­
bances. as well as a guarantee that critical security and communication
systems are not disabled by power outages. The power is always supplied
by a battery, even when the main power is on.
Dr Ogbuobiri said Ezak Associates have secured working capital to pro
duce the Dataguard, but lack venture capital to market the device. "First
Interstate Bank of Oregon will provide us with working capital when we
receive a purchase order from a firm, but we cannot secure venture capi
tai." Dr Ogbuobiri said presently he is negotiating to sell the Dataguard in
parts of Africa.
Dr Ogbuobiri developed the Ezak Dataguard, which comes in three
models The firm also produces income tax and general business soft
ware Other services offered by Ezak Associates include; consulting ser
vices to clients who are contemplating purchasing a computer for his or
her business, assessment services on a turnkey basis; performance of ana
lysis of emergency electric power supply needs of establishments; and
individualized as well as small group training and problem-solving work
shops for executives and other professionals on a variety of productivity,
cost control, and planning and implementation topics
Dr. Ogbuobiri said so far Ezak Associates has sold the Dataguard to Leo
nard and Associates; Interland Investors, of Tigard; American State Bank;
a roofing company in Tualatin; and an accounting firm in Alaska He said
that the Dataguard is a good product.
"The Dataguard is designed for maintenance free application. It works
with regular deep-cycle 12 volt car batteries which can easily be obtained
locally. The unit itself requires no owner-maintenance. Only occassional
inspection of the external battery by the owner is necessary," said Dr.
Ogbuobiri.
Furthermore, he said the Ezak Dataguard is designed for world wide
adaptability. This is made possible because the unit can be plugged direct
ly into a 110-volt 50-60 Hz supp'y or to a 220-volt supply. The "Series A"
models are for American equipment operated anywhere in the world.
"Senes B" model* will power European type equipment anywhere in the
world.
Dr. Ogbuobiri was born in Alor, Nigeria He has a Ph D from Cornell
University College of Engineering Dr. Ogbuobiri has vast experience in
systems science and professional engineering He serves as a consultant
for Bonneville, and has developed advanced practical methods and auto­
mated procedures for long range (20 30 yrs I planning of high voltage elec­
trical power transmission network* A version of his work has been adap
ted by the West German Electric Company in Essen for their long range
planning activity.
Dr. Ogbuobiri is a former high school teacher, a former computer desig­
ner for IBM, a former systems consultant to the City of Portland, a co­
founder and former systems consultant for Nero and Associates, Inc., a
former adjunct professor of systems science and engineering at Portland
State University and the University of Portland. He ha* pioneered numer­
ous applications of systems techniques to technological and human organi-
zational problems. His oarty application of social area analysis and compu
ter mapping was the basis for the U S Department of Housing to sponsor
workshops Earlier this year, Dr Ogbuobiri was the recipient of the Oregon
Business League's Booker T Washington Award The award is given to an
individual for their support o, Black owned businesses
Have A Hassle-Free Holiday
When the days dwindle down, smart holiday shoppers know the tricks to
saving time and money
Those that follow should make this season's shop
ping all the more enjoyable
• Take all the help you can get
Read your local consumer columns and
watch T V consumer roports for the best buys available in your area
• Books and other guides to croative gifts can help you try your hand at
making your own presents for the person who has everything.
• Use consumer loyalty programs to stretch your holiday dollars.
For
example, the A T& T Opportunity Calling program is available to everyone
When the days dwindle down, smart holiday shoppers know the tricks to
saving time and money Those that follow should make this season's shop
ping all the more enjoyable.
• Take all the help you can get Read your local consumer columns and
watch T V. consumer reports for the best buys available in your area
• Books and other guides to creative gifts can help you try your hand at
making your own present for the person who has everything
• Use consumer loyalty programs to stretch your holiday dollars For
example, the A T& T Opportunity Calling program is available to everyone
and offers top name merchandise at great discounts, just call 1 800 992
0992
• Shop as early as possible, not only to avoid the crowds, but also to find
the best prices. Try to shop at "off peak" hours avoid the Saturday rush.
• Look into those catalogs that have been filling up your mailbox Mer
chandise can be ordered by phone and delivered right to your door or some
one elses It saves time and offers alternatives to the usual gifts.
• Having a hard time thinking of the right gift? Look around at everyday
items for inspiration —a new phone or answering machine, for example,
would be appreciated by any number of people, from teenagers to new
home owners
• If you're short on time as well as cash, spend a moment developing a
gift list connecting names with gift ideas and price ranges
• Don't wait any longerl The holiday season is almost here, and with a
little planning it can be hassle free
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