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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 22, 1988)
June 22, 198Ö, Portland Observer, Page 3 NATIONAL NEWS UPDATE PORTLAND OBSERVER Black And White Women With Infants Are More Likely To Be In Labor Force The proportions of Black and White women aged 18 to 44 with newborn children who were in the labor force were substantially higher in 1987 than in 1976, accor ding to the Commerce Depart ment’s Census Bureau. About half of all Black and White women with infants were in the labor force (employed or look ing for work) in 1987. In 1976, the proportions were 43 percent for Black women and 29 percent for White women. The fertility rate among Black women aged 18 to 44 was 83 births per 1,000 women last year compared with 69 births per 1,000 White women. Black women aged 18 to 24 had a considerably higher fertility rate than did their White counterparts, while the rate for White women aged 25 to 29 ex ceeded that for Black women. Among women aged 30 and over no statistical differences in the rates were found between both races. Fifty-five percent of births to Black women are to those not married at the time of the survey, about four times the proportion for White women. As in all surveys, the data in this report are subject to samp ling variability and response er rors. Copies of Fertility of American Women: June 1987, Series P-20, No. 427, are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. The attached charts show labor force participation rates of Black and White women with infants in 1987 and 1976 and fertility rates by age in 1987. Larry Lundy Promoted By Pizza Hut, Inc. WICHITA, KS — Larry Lundy has been promoted to vice pre sident of restaurant development for Pizza Hut, Inc. In his new posi tion, Lundy will be responsible for all real estate, construction and property management programs in support of the company’s tra ditional, delivery and new con cept unit development goals. Formerly vice president and controller for Pizza Hut, Lundy came to Pizza Hute in July 1983 as controller. His promotion re cognizes the numerous and con siderable contributions he has made to the company over the past five years. Teenage unemployment for Blacks was 34.8 percent, down from 37.3 percent in May 1987. For teenage Black men, the May 1988 rate was 33.3 percent and for teenage women, 36.6 percent. • Payroll employment, as mea sured by the monthly survey of business establishments, rose by 210,000 in May. In contrast, total civilian employment, as esti mated through the m onthly survey of households, showed a drop of 520,000 following a 600,000 increase in April. Recent over-the-month movements in the household employment series have been somewhat erratic. Rasheedah Sabreen Ali Promoted To Director Carrie Saxon Perry Mayor of Hartford, Conn. Prior to his employment by Piz za Hut, Lundy directed the inter nal auditing function of ARA Ser vices, Inc., and before that served five years with the public ac counting firms of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Alexander Grant & Company. Additionally, Lundy gained real estate and acquisi tions experience while at ARA. Lt. General Colin L. Powell: First Black National Security Adviser PORTLAND OBSERVER “ The Eyes and Ears of the Community" 288-0033 search. The Black underclass Despite rosy economic statis continues to be mired in poverty tics, security and prosperity still t is now patently clear that, and isolation, and the number of barring some unforeseen cir elude m illions of Americans, working poor is growing at an cumstance, Jesse Jackson will especially Blacks. Real after-tax alarming rate. Moreover, the last family income has fallen over the not be the Democratic nominee eight years have seen attempts by past 10 years for all but the top 20 or president in 1988. Now, some the Administration to weaken ex are expressing the fear that per percent of the population. The isting civil rights laws and regula rich-poor gap is at its widest in 40 haps a significant segment of tions. years. Rising rents and deep cuts Jackson supporters — dispirited in federal housing subsidies or embittered by their candidate’s These chronic problems will since 1981 have made decent, af defeat — will stay home during only be solved when a politically fordable housing little more than the November elections. engaged and active citizenry a dream for many families. Thirty- I, for one, do not share this demands a social, economic and five million Americans are with view, but it does merit comment. political agenda which addresses out health insurance and 20 per For millions of Black Americans these issues. In recent years, the cent of American children grow and others, Jackson’s gallant growing power of the Black vote up in poverty. The figures for campaign was a harbinger of and political activism have forced Blacks are substantially higher. In hope and progress during this politicians to seriously consider election year. But while his appar addition, the problems of decay- ent failure to gain the nomination may be demoralizing to some, Jackson’s candidacy has had a jrofound impact on the American oolitical landscape. He has prov ed that a black person can be a viable candidate for the highest office in the land. He has raised important social and economic issues that cannot be ignored by either party. His campaign has in spired m illions to take part, perhaps for the first time, in the electoral process. His social and economic message broadened his support beyond the Black community to include a wide Jesse Jackson speaking at Martin Luther King Elementary School spectrum of American society. And even in defeat, he will be a munity, particularly in areas ing public schools, racial polari factor to be reckoned with when where the Black vote could pro zation, and crime- and drug-ridden the Democrats draw up their strat vide the margin of victory. neighborhoods are all too famil egy for November. Most political analysts predict iar. Intractable problems continue The end of Jackson’s run for that the November election will to threaten social foundations the White House must not mark be closely contested. Hence, the and the economy: huge trade and the end of the efforts of Black Black vote can play a pivotal role budget deficits; a declining Americans to help shape this na in the election of the next presi productive base and lagging tion's policy agenda. There is too dent of the United States. And competitiveness; the erosion of much at stake in 1988 for any Norm in Hill is 0« lh» A. Philip infrastructure, education, and re- Black Americans to walk away Randolph Institute. the concerns of the Black com- from the political process. I James Brown “ I love my wife ...(?) Larry Lundy Looking Beyond: The Jackson Campaign by Norman Hill 288*0033 Ms. Rasheedah Sabreen Ali was recently named Director, Cor porate Communications, Apache Division, of the Southwest Gas Corporation in Tucson, Ariz. Pro moted from the post of Assistant Director, Ms. Ali is the corporate spokesperson for the organiza tion and she administers all communications functions for The Employment Situation WASHINGTON — The Black unemployment rate for May 1988 was 12.4 percent, a drop of about one percent from the May 1987 -•ate of 13.5 percent, the Depart ment of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. The 12.4 percent rate for Blacks compares to a May 1988 general population civilian unemploy ment rate of 5.6 percent. For Black men, the May, 1988 unemployment rate was 10.8 per cent, down from 12.2 percent in May 1987. Black women also showed a drop in unemployment from a year ago, from 11.6 percent in 1987 to 10.6 percent in May, 1988. “ The Eyes and Ears of the Com m unity’ Ms. Rasheedah Sabreen Ali the Tucson division. A native New Yorker, Ms. Ali attended Hunter College in New York following graduation from Julia Richmond High School. She subsequently took a bachelors degree in jour nalism at the University of Ari zona. She is active with several civil rights and professional orga nizations and serves as a member of the Mayor's task force on hous ing. Ms. Ali is married and has four children. Blacks Promote Art & Culture In Urban Centers A new breed of well-educated, experienced arts administrators now head art and cultural agen cies in many of the nation’s lar gest cities, reports the July EBONY. Commanding budgets ranging from $1 million to $100 million, these professionals are working to stimulate renewed interest in the arts and culture, while pro viding much-needed support for local artists and arts organiza tions. Executive director of the Chica go Council on Fine Arts since her 1983 appointment by the late Mayor Harold Washington, Made line Murphy Rabb oversees a bud get of $4 million. An established artist in her own right, Mrs. Rabb says, “ Clearly, one of the most crucial responsibilities of local arts agencies is to be a leader and a catalyst in the democratization of the arts.” Other cultural bosses featured in the July issue are Mary Sch midt Campbell, commissioner of cultural affairs, New York City; Oliver Franklin, deputy city repre sentative for arts and culture, Philadelphia; Barbara Robinson Nicholson, executive director, Commission on Arts and Human ities, Washington, D.C.; Shahida Mausi, director, Detroit Council of the Arts and Harriet Sanford, director, Bureau of Cultural Af fairs, Atlanta. L t General Colin L. Powell Lt. General Colin L. Powell, 51, America’s national security ad viser, has emerged as one of the most powerful Black men ever to serve the U.S. government, re ports the July EBONY. While his appointment is view ed as a milestone achievement for Black Americans, the three- star general says he just feels “ privileged to be the first Black person to hold this senior White House position.” Bewell rose from modest be ginnings in the South Bronx of New York, to chart a long and dis tinguished military career. After starting with the Army ROTC, Powell then served two tours of duty in Vietnam, where he was decorated with the Legion of Merit award, and the Purple Heart. As one of only a few Black ap pointees in the Reagan adminis tration, Powell’s influence and ex pertise have made him a key par ticipant in the planning of super power Summit meetings, as well as the shaping and execution of U.S. foreign policy. Considered the product of a “ family of achievers,” Powell relates that there are no shortcuts to excellence. “ There are no se crets to success,” he says. “ Don’t waste time looking for them. Suc cess is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty to those for whom you work and persistence. You must be ready for opportunity when it comes,” he adds. 1988 McDonald’s Black History Makers Of Tomorrow — National Winners
