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Portland, O regon
PORTLfiMbteERVER
A n Observer Special Report
Introducing
The Struggle To Dream:
Part II of IV: Economic Homefront
by Nyewusi Askari
tions. Harold Williams, a local
businessman, explains: “ Most
wenty years ago, the U.S.
Black businesses in the Black
Riot Commission, in a report
community
are under-capitalized.
to the President of the United
In
other
words,
many have
States, said, “ Most Americans
enough
money
to
implement
pro­
know little of the origins of the
jects
but
not
enough
to
carry
racial schism separating our
them out. Also, lack of a credit
white and Negro citizens. Few
line ... this really slows down the
can appreciate how central the
development
of any Black busi­
problem of the Negro has been to
ness.
All
too
often,
a Black busi­
our Social policy. Fewer still
ness
has
to
over
collateralize.
It
understand that today's problems
becomes
a
five
to
one
ratio.
For
can be solved only if white
every one dollar a bank will let you
Americans comprehend the rigid
have, you have to secure five.
social, economic, and educa­
"I don’t know if its a blatant in­
tional barriers that have prevented
sensitivity
to Blacks in business
Negroes from participating in the
or
because
of a standard rule of
mainstream of American life.
lending
institutions,”
he says,
Only a handful realize that Negro
"but
they
have
not
changed
their
accomodation to the patterns of
patterns.
They
just
look
at
the
bot­
prejudice in American culture has
tom
line
...
not
at
the
diverse
been but one side of the coin —
society that they are interfacing
for as slaves and as free men,
with.”
Negroes have protested against
Jewel and Doris Thomas, co­
oppression and have persistently
owners
and managers of Doris
sought equality in American
Cafe,
decided
to approach the
society.”
problem
in
a
different
manner.
When one examines the fragile
Said
Jewel:
“
Once
Doris
and I
economic and social relationship
found
out
what
the
banks
re­
between P o rtla n d ’s African-
quired
of
us,
we
decided
to
do
it
American community and the
our
way.
First,
we
took
our
life
governments of the city of Port­
savings and acquired the build­
land and the state of Oregon, it is
ing. There was no way we were
immediately apparent that the
going to go to the banks seeking
commission’s report could have
a loan. To do so would have
been written yesterday — or to-
T
Doris and Jewel Thomas
Co-owners and operators
Doris Cafe
Angela Davis
Political Activist
and Educator
Lecture On
South African Issues
★ FREE ★
Speaker Angela Davis
Sept. 30, 1988
Lecture - Noon to 1:00 p.m.
Reception -1 :00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Portland State University
Smith Memorial Ballroom
Angela Davis is the author
of numerous essays in the
areas of Black liberation,
political prisoners and the
p e n a l/ju d ic ia l system, the
struggle for women's equity,
and U.S. history. A professor of
philosophy, Ms. Davis is the
author of her best-selling book,
Angela Davis: An Autobio­
graphy, and Women, Race and
Class.
Ms. Ernestine Broadous,
Manager,
Steen’s Restaurant
CORRECTION
Due to an error in last week’s
a rticle , “ The Struggle to
Dream: Prelude,” readers may
have been led to believe the
city of Portland was reluctant
to acknowledge problems that
exist in the Black community.
That passage, in column two,
should have read: (3) the city’s
seeming reluctance to high­
light, in its marketing plan, the
positive and very real aspects
of the A fric a n -A m e ric a n
community."
We regret any confusion this
error may have caused our
readers.
Fair Housing
Amendments
Act Signed
President Reagan last Tuesday
signed what he called “ the most
important civil rights legislation
in 20 years.”
The Fair Housing Amendments
Act of 1988 is designed to punish
violators of the federal fair hous­
ing laws.
Here are the major provisions
of the Act (reprint by permission
of The Oregonian):
HOUSING ACT
■ Protectien against housing
discrimination will cover the
disabled and handicapped and
families with children under
age 18. Current law already
covers race, sex, religion or
national o r ig in
■ The Department of Housing
and Urban Development will
try to settle complaints, if that
fails, the case will go to an
administrative law judge or a
U.S. District Court judge.
■ If an administrative judge
finds evidence of discrimina­
tion, he can issue an injunction
or impose fines.
Maximum fines would be
$10.000 for a first violation,
$25,000 for a second violation
within five years and $50.000
for two or more violations with­
in seven years. Civil penalties
ranging from $10,000 to
$100,000 would be added when
a pattern of discrimination has
been proved.
The administrative judge's
ruling would be subject to
review by a federal appellate
court.
A U.S. district judge also
could impose punitive dam-
ages
■ New buildings with four or
more units must be construct­
ed so they are readily access­
ible to the handicapped
■ Disabled tenants will have
the right to modify dwellings at
their own expense, but they
would have to restore the
property to its original condi-
tion when they leave.
STEEN’S KITCHEN: A new black-owned business on Union Avenue
meant putting up our home, our
day. All is not well on the
car
and anything else of value as
economic homefront.
security.”
Doris joined the inter­
On one homefront, city leaders
view.
"After
we acquired the
and economic planners seem de­
building,
we
put
the restaurant
termined to revitalize around,
together
piece
by
piece.
One day
under and over the African-
we
might
buy
one
table.
The
next
American community. It has been
day
we
might
buy
a
tablecloth.
previously pointed out, by Pro­
We continued like this until we
fessor McKinley Burt, that “ A
had fu rn is h e d th e e n tire
newcomer to Portland would find
restaurant.
it hard to believe that Union
“ Both Jewel and I were commit­
Avenue was once a bustling
ted
to idea of building a business
thoroughfare of retail stores,
from
the bottom up with what we
groceries, restaurants, clubs,
had,”
Doris said, “ Now if we
banks, florists and new and used
would
have
thought that we could
car dealerships.”
have
secured
a bank loan without
Professor Burt’s reminder is
having
to
sign
over our souls, we
but one in a series. Long-term
would
have
done
it. However,
Black Oregonians remind us that
from
what
we
learned
about the
many Black properties and
banks
lending
policies,
we knew
businesses were wiped out by
we
didn’t
qualify.
But,
we
didn’t
programs like Urban renewal
let
that
discourage
us.”
(Urban removal), the Coliseum,
Jewel and Doris are typical of a
Emanuel Hospital, Model Cities,
new
breed of black entrepreneurs
Freeways and by white, privately-
who
are committed to making it
owned commercial enterprises.
“
in
spite
of." However, for every
On the economic homefront,
Jewel
and
Doris, there will be
Black businessmen and women
hundreds
who
won’t make it un­
are re-grouping. Many are disap­
less
city
and
state support is
pointed with the poor prospects
forthcoming.
for starting new businesses or
It is this reason, and more, that
maintaining the ones they have.
Portland’s African-American com­
Most say the problem stems from
rigid policies set forth by banks, munity insists on equal educa-
thrifts and other lending institu-
■ Continued to Page 4
O B S E R V E R ’S IN D E X
FEATURES........................................................................... P a g e !
EDITORIAL STO R IES.....................................................Page 2
COMMUNITY FO R U M ....................... - ................. .....P a g e 3
RELIGION............................................................................P a g e^
ENTERTAINM ENT.........................................................Page 6
COMMUNITY C A LE N D A R .........................................Pages 7
CLASSIFIEDS.............................................................Page 10-11
■ Children could be barred
from housing intended for the
elderly, but that would be the
only exception to an open­
housing policy for those 18 and
under. Housing for the elderly
is defined as a community
where at least 80 percent of
the dwellings are occupied by
at least one person age 55 or
older, and significant facilities
and services are provided; or
those occupied solely by peo-
ple age 62 and older.
25«
Columbia Villa Demonstration
Project Announced
■ Evaluate and refine the project
hree local government lead­
as it progresses, including the
ers announced today the
creation of a demonstration pro­ composition of the project
te a m
ject to “ deal with crime, fear of
Primary
services to be focused
crime and to improve the quality
on
are
public
safety, crime
of life” of residents at Columbia
prevention,
social
services and
Villa public housing project in
community
development.
North Portland.
Commissioner McCoy said that
M ayor J. E. Bud C lark,
Multnomah
County will initially
Multnomah County Chair Gladys
send
10
county
employees to be
McCoy and Housing Authority of
members
of
the
team — seven
Portland E xecutive D ire c to r
from
Human
Services
and three
Donald E. Clark presented the
from
Justice
Services.
They
will in­
concept.
clude
three
community
health
A joint effort of the city, coun­
nurses,
a
ju
v
e
n
ile
ju
s tic e
ty and HAP, the demonstration
c
o
u
n
s
e
lo
r,
a
g
in
g
s
e
rv
ic e s
project involves the formation of a
specialist,
child
and
family
serv­
public service team composed of
ices
worker,
adult
parole
and
pro­
staff from many disciplines that
bation
counselor
plus
other
staff,
will both coordinate and deliver
she said.
services to the more than 1,642
“ While we do not have all the
residents of Columbia Villa and
answers
to tough social pro­
the adjacent Tamarack housing
blems,”
McCoy
said, “ we do have
projects, they said.
a
solid
network
of professional
The Neighborhood Safety and
and
compassionate
workers who
Improvement Demonstration Pro­
want
to
do
the
best
job for all
ject will begin Sept. 19, when a
citizens.”
preliminary group of service pro­
McCoy added that Columbia
viders from the three public en­
Villa
residents are part of the
tities will begin a start-up phase.
solution.
“ We are calling upon the
The team w ill be housed at Col­
people
who
live in Columbia Villa
umbia Villa.
to
become
part of the solu­
“ This is an opportunity for local
tio
n
—
to
work
with government
government to work together
agencies
...
to
be part of the
more closely to solve the difficult
decision-making
process,
not just
problems of the people at Colum­
the
recipient
of
services.”
bia Villa,” said Don Clark, whose
Mayor Clark said the project
agency operates the two housing
can
become a symbol for the en­
projects. “ It's an opportunity to
tire
city
— "a symbol of what peo­
turn the neighborhood around
ple
and
government
can do to get
before the problems of gang ac­
something
they
want
— a strong,
tivity, drug abuse and violence get
healthy,
safe
place
to
live."
worse. It’s also an opportunity to
Clark said a number of city
target services in a way that gives
bureaus,
including the Bureau of
residents more opportunity and
Police,
would
be involved in the
hope.”
project.
He
said
the project is ful­
A two-track process is envi­
ly
consistent
with
the recently-
sioned: 1) a community organiza­
announced
Neighborhood
Re­
tio n a l e ffo rt in w h ich the
vitalization
Strategy
Project,
and
neighborhood will be encouraged
said he hoped that other public
to form a neighborhood group
agencies would become involved
and begin to identify its needs,
in the Columbia Villa effort.
and 2) the service-delivery compo­
“ The residents of Columbia
nent which will involve the m ulti­
Villa
have the full commitment of
disciplinary project team.
the
city,
county and the Housing
The team’s responsibilities are
Authority
to do what’s necessary
to:
to
make
this
neighborhood safe
■ Work together as a team to
and
secure,”
Mayor Clark said.
provide services and develop
"They
can
be
assured
that we do
strategies for addressing pro­
not
want
to
see
the
fear
and vio­
blems with individuals and
lence
that
is
breeding
in this
families at Columbia Villa;
neighborhood
continue.”
■ Link residents with other
HAP is contributing three staff
public services, as well as
members
to the initial team — a
those of private agencies or
new
Area
Housing Manager for
o r g a n iz a t io n s ;
Columbia
Villa,
the maintenance
■ W ork c lo s e ly w ith th e
foreman
and
HAP's
public safety
neighb orh ood to id e n tify
specialist,
Don
Clark
said.
neighborhood priorities and
The
demonstration
project is
needs; and
■ Continued to Page 4
T
NBWSMAKER OF THE WEEK
PSU Affirmative Action Director
Dr. Jacquelyn Y. Harrell
The appointment of Dr. Jacquelyn Y. Harrell,
director of Affirm ative Action programs at
Portland State University, to the Police Internal
Investigations Auditing Committee (PIIAC) was
announced by City Comm issioner Dick Bogle.
A graduate of the Thurgood Marshall School
of Law at Texas Southern University, Harrell
came to PSU in August 1987 from Huntsville,
Texas, where she served for two years as chief of
employee relations for the Texas Department of
Corrections.
She earned a bachelor of arts degree in
public adm inistration and liberal studies from
Florida International University in Miami.
From 1968 to 1979, she served as assistant
director of Affirm ative Action programs at the
University of Miami, leaving to attend law school.
While enrolled at Texas Southern, she held the
full-tim e position of night director of the
Women’s Christian Home, a Houston halfway
house for women in distress.
After receiving her doctor of jurisprudence degree In 1962, she worked as a staff attorney for North
Central Texas Legal Services in Dallas until joining the Texas Department of Correction in 1985.
Harrell is alternate regional director and Oregon state representative of the American Association
of Affirmative Action; local and national board member of YWCA; and a member of Phi Alpha Delta Law
Fraternity International, National Association of Human Rights Workers, American Association of
University Women, National Urban League, and the N m ACP.
She is a trustee emeritus of the Church of The Open Door, United Church of Christ.
I
■ Tt Jr