July 20, 1988, Portland O b s e r v e r , 3
Coaition of Black men cont: Black com m unity awed by turnou t
At a signal from their leaders,
they marched out into Alberta
street in a determined effort to re-
e s ta b lis h c o n tro l over the
community in which they live.
Like the great African warriors
from whom they descended, the
Coalition of Black Men rallied
behind their standard bearer and
marched to the ominous cadence
of the drum set by Art Alexander.
Halim Rahsaan harked the battle
cry, “ Here we come, Black com
munity! Stop the gangs. Push
crack back. Youth involvement.
We need you. The time has come.
Forward together. Backward
never. It’s time to unite. Don’t be
afraid!"
Bonnie, a large black watch
dog, marched along with his mas
ter, Bruce Watts who said, "I am a
social worker and everyday I
obseive the very negative influ
ences which surround the Black
youths of our community. Each
time they walk out onto the
streets they encounter pimps,
hustlers and pushers. We are here
today to show them that there are
other alternatives.”
Karim Davis, a seven year old,
marched along with his father
Waverly who said, “ My Saturdays
normally are spent with my son.
This is a very special occasion. If
our appearance will contribute to
a difference, then the time will
have been well spent.
At Alberta and Rodney more
Black men joined the group as
their women applauded the effort
to save the community. Bonnie
Holiday urged them on, “ Right
on!” This is exactly what we
need.” By the time the army of
warriors had reached Alberta and
Vancouver streets this battle cry
had sparked a determined mo
mentum. Someone called for a
musical rhythm and to the beat of
the drum more than 600 hundred
hands came together in unison
and created a sound that
reverberated off the walls of the
surrounding buildings like thun
der. This in turn seemed to have a
galvanic response on the deter
mination of the marchers.
Albany Disciple took up the
battle cry as he shouted the
chants that would take the army
all the way to their destination at
Unthank Park. Ben Priestley
marched along with his sons,
Ayinde & Omari. Mr. Priestley
said, “ The North, Northeast com
munities always have been a
special concern of mine. It is high
time that the larger community
views us in a positive light."
A lfred Richardson agreed,
“ Black men need to start com
municating together about the
problems of our youths rather
than focusing soley on sports.
This demonstration is something
positive.”
By the time the marchers had
advanced to the A.M.E. Zion
church at Vancouver and Skid
more Streets, the cheering on
lookers had increased in num
bers. Parishioners poured out of
the edifice and greeted the men
with smiles and spontaneous
applause.
Their battle cry had reached a
compelling crescendo, “ Don't be
afraid to unite! You are never too
old. You are never too young to
stand up and be counted.”
Ron Lewis said, “ I am here to
demonstrate my support for the
many problems which undermine
our community. As Black men we
must display positive role mod
els. We simply must stop the in
creased influx of gang activity.
We must insure that they will not
be able to recruit new members
from among our impressionable
Black youths. We must initiate
programs to involve our young
Black youths not only in sports
but also in nature studies, cultural
awareness and any other effort
that will assist them in building a
positive image of themselves."
Under the roof of the Unthank
Park pavilion, the victorious
marchers were joined by Black
women in a resounding cheer and
then they all sang the Black
National Anthem.
In his keynote address, the Rev.
Dr. James Martin, spokesperson
for the group, stated that the
march had been made to express
the concerns and desires of the
Black community. He indicated a
need to increase education, to
The conga players are mem
bers of a drum class that uses the
Yaun Child Care, Inc. located at
the Mallory Avenue Community
C h ris tia n C h urch fo r th e ir
lessons. The instructor is Caton
Lyles and his students are David
Arkinson, Isaac Stevenson, and
Richard Steward. Mr. Lyles said,
"I decided that we should perform
here today to give the students an
opportunity to become involved
in a community activity. I wanted
them to make a positive state
ment. This is their contribution.”
I spoke to one of the students,
David Arkinson, and discovered
that there was a driving force
behind and within David. Here are
his words, “ I really concerned
about what Martin Luther King
did. Right? I always tell the kids at
Yaun to look up to the adults. I
feel that I can become a civil
rights leader because I used to be
a BLOOD myself. I’ve lived on the
streets of Portland and have been
a gang member since I was
9-years-old. I am 16-years-old now
and I feel that I can make a differ
ence when I grow up. I want to
change this and make this place
better — because it ain’t giving us
n o _________ _ these people just
don’t know about us. I know how
kids are dealing with this problem
right now because they are going
around saying stuff like that ‘Oh,
nobody cares’ and they want all
that chains — and stuff like that
and getting into gangs, people
getting shot and everything. BUT,
its not doing nothing but messin’
up the community. What I’m say
ing is — I can't explain right now
how I really feel because there are
times when I sit back and I think
about everything. Ya’ know? Like
the time that’s in my head. I think
about my past. Ya’ know? So, I’m
just getting all confused and I feel
like messing up everything, too.
I make a living. Ya’ know? I’m a
10:00 a.m. in the King NeignDor-
mend broken families and to re
graphic artist. I’m, also, a drug
hood Facility at 4815 N.E. Seventh
duce poverty. By so doing, Dr.
and alcohol counselor at Marshall
near Alberta.
Martin predicted that the lack of
High School and I have been for
hope would be eliminated. He al
two years. I help others to know
After arriving at the park, there
so, emphasized the importance of
about
drugs because I had a heart
were wives and family members
embracing the great African tradi
attack
last year. Suicidal; but, I
anxiously awaiting the arrival of
tion in which the elders of the
got back to life in the hospital. I
the marchers.
community establish their author
took 'Angel Dust’ when I was so
ity and serve as teachers and role
mad. Ya' know? I have a lot of
There was a group of conga
models for the developing youths.
things
going for me now.”
players assembled in the park
Dr. Martin said, “ Before we can
If David continues on the road
who increased the excitement,
ask for help from the outside
he is now on, he is sure to make a
which had already filled the air,
community we must first estab
p o s itiv e im p a c t upo n the
with their pulsating and rhyth
lish that we are worthy of such
community.
mical beat. The beat quickened
help. We must pull ourselves up
Such a young life; but, he has
and
proclaimed the arrival of the
by our own bootstraps. The gang
aged by the grim experiences.
meritorious group.
problem is our problem. The drug
problem is our problem. Before
we can serve as role models for
our youths we must examine our
own lifestyles and make whatever
adjustments that are necessary.
And even though there are many
problems within the Black com
munity we must also recognize
the unlimited opportunities that
exist with regard to education,
business and employment. We
must plan for many victories. This
is only a beginning. We will make
people want to get involved with
revitalizing this our community."
O th e r sp e a ke rs in c lu d e d
Buff & Wax
Commissioner Dick Bogle who
Hand Car Wash
Hand Wax
observed that in the near 60 years
Carpet Shampoo
Shoe Shine Available
that he has lived in Portland he
Steam Clean Engine
had never witnessed such a
positive demonstration in support
of the Black community.
Aleem Shabaaz from the Coali
2415 N.E. ALBERTA ST. • PORTLAND. OREGON 97211
tion of Black Men underscored
the importance of returning the
Black community to the real citi
zens and the higher ideals for
which they always have strived.
Useni Perkins, one of the
founders, concluded the major
presentations by reading one of
his original poems, Do You Dig,
Brother? It expounded upon the
efforts generations of Black men
— H O W TO DO A C O LD W AVE —
have directed toward attaining the
essence of manhood. I he poem
If you ladies are still wearing curls-Your late To
ends with the admonition, "You
wear just a curl isn’t enough. Sometimes your hair
had better dig, man or dig your
should be able to move in the wind.
own Black grave."
You say your tired of the curl, but what will you do?
The Rev. John Parker conclud
If you change over — your hair will fall out — not true.
ed the convocation with inspira
Not with the Ocean Wave or Jajie line. You can
tional words and sealed the bond
have
your curl removed and then wear it straight for 6
of fellowship with a traditional
months
... then go back to the curl, or you can remove it
joining of hands symbolic of the
today and put it back in three days after.
all important interactions that link
the men and women of the com
munity together in an unbroken
chain.
The Black Coalition of Men will
HOURS: Thursday thru Saturday - 8:0 0 a.m. -5:00 p.m.
reconvene in a special fellowship
following the next regular meet
ing on Saturday, July 23rd, at
D o Y o u D ig B ro th e r
by Useni Eugene Perkins
Do you dig brother
Do you dig dig dig
Do you dig brother
Do you dig dig dig
Do you dig brother a new world
fertile with black concepts/
celebrating the tombs of ancient
warriors/and kingdoms which shine
like night stars/praising blackness
with ju ju spirits
affirming truth
dig dig dig
dig dig dig
Do you dig softness/the skin of a black
sister/resting against your wounds/wounds
of battle and victory/beautiful black sisters
helping brothers to
build black nations
dig dig dig
dig dig dig
Do you dig brother
revolutionary sounds/screaming
from the souls of COLTRANE’S disciples/
composing black symphonies for our
mothers/sisters/daughters/
natural as they are/can be/
will be/must be/
naturally be/
Do you dig brother
a generation of black men/being men/
acting as men/fighting men/men who are
men/want to be men/to help give birth
to new men/who will be the sons
of real men/
dig dig dig
dig dig dig
Do you dig brother
the spirit of PRINCE MALCOLM giving you direction/
a fulfillment of purpose/love for another
brother/negro brothers/colored brothers/
afro-american brothers/black
brothers/african brothers/third
world brothers/becoming real
brothers/to each other/for each
other/to save each other/
dig dig dig
dig dig dig
Do you dig brother
the voice of RAY CHARLES bursting into
a night song/screaming with love/and
tears/to make your heart cry out
YESTERDAY/and feel good
so good/too good/
be good/is good/'
Do you dig brother
the energy of your soul/transmitting
blackness/and the blues/the energy given
you by blackness/to transcend/transcend/
counteract/attack/attack/aftack/counteract/
Do you dig brother
together/we as a nation
a black nation/with songs
for our women
together/understanding/aware
of the enemy who
lurks in our minds
Do you dig brother
for if you don’t you better dig
your own black grave
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