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Volume XVIII, Number 46
25C
October 13,1988
"The Eyes and Ears of the C om m unity"
Introducing ...
Beverly Bonher
Senior, Jefferson High School
Walnut Park Fred Meyer:
To Stay Or Not To Stay???
by Leon Harris, Managing Editor, Portland Observer
• The most marked differ­
ences in incarceration rates were:
homicide, 93 percent for minori­
his special report is in re­
ties vs. 57 percent for whites:
sponse to numerous re­
rape/sodomy, 52 percent vs. 39
quests from members of the Afri­ percent.
can-American community: (1) pro­
• Whites received significantly
vide a profile of the so-called
shorter sentences than minorities
“ average criminal” in the Oregon
convicted of rape/sodomy, 14
prison system and (2) give an
years vs. 22 years; or drug posses­
explanation of who he/she is.
sion, 3-3/4 years vs. almost seven
Many of the requests were ac­
years.
companied by statements that
• Among first offenders, the
revealed a growing frustration
difference in the average prison
with the way African-Americans
sentence imposed for whites
ate portrayed regarding crime by
relative to minorities was 16
the major broadcast and print
months.
media, especially in North/North-
The study confirms what most
east Portland.
Black Oregonians have sus­
Asked to provide a profile using
pected all along — in Inner North­
real numbers, the Observer has
east Portland where whites make
compiled the following:
up more than 55 percent of the
• A cco rd in g to s ta tis tic s
population, and in North Portland
gathered by the Oregon Law En­
where
they are more than 80 per­
forcement Data System, the aver­
cent of the population, a large
age criminal in Oregon is (1) un­
portion of the crimes committed
dereducated, (2) young, (3)
are being committed by a white
unemployed and (4) white.
criminal element. Nonetheless,
• At Oregon State Penitentiary,
the media continues to paint the
77 percent of the prison popula­
picture Black.
tion is white (2,561).
| n recent weeks, this publication has been besieged with community
B concern regarding the rumored closure of the Walnut Park Fred
Meyer store. As of press time, officials of the grocery/variety store
chain had yet to respond to the Observer’s request for a statement of
affirmation or denial.
One thing is for certain, the Senior Citizens Complex, less than
two hundred yards away, can ill afford to lose the convience of the
pharmacy and the grocery outlet, as well as other conviences offered.
As one concerned senior stated, “ This is another example of how
a major and much needed business abdicates its responsibility to a
community in need."
The Observer invites comments from its readership regarding this
alleged action. Please forward your written comments to: The Portland
Observer, 525 N.E. Killingsworth St., Portland, Oregon 97211.
# o f p rio r c o n v ic tio n s
Percentages of felons
sentenced in 1986 by
number of prior felony
adult convictions
I
j None: 56.6%
EZ2 One: 14.5%
KM
Two: 6.3%
E22 Three: 5.1%
From a total of 6,693 felons
(-.-J Four. 3.1%
IS 3 Five: 2.5%
iH
Six: 1.4%
Seven: .7%
E 3 Eight: .6%
I
1 Nine: .6%
imnn Ten: .3%
Saluting ....
F 7 1 More than ten: .7 *
I— I Amount unclear:
7 .7 %
Note: Percentages have been adjusted for data which was missing in
1 7 4 (1 /9 1
casas
1 .7 4 9 (21.1%) cases.
Graphics by B. Nichols-Statesman-Journal
Courtesy of Statesman-Journal Publishers
Felons sentenced in 1986 by race
Allen Biggers,
Natural Hair Sculpture,
Owner, Operator of
The Studio Gallery
Coming Soon To NE Portland
H is p a n ic
2 81
3.3%
—I
Saluting ...
IN D E X
•-1
1
J b w
EDITORIAL/OPINION
Page 2
COMMUNITY FORUM
Page 3
RELIGION
Pages 4 & 5
ENTERTAINMENT
Page 6
CLASSIFIEDS
Pages 8 - 10
O rie n ta l
32
.4%
I
Blacks are also committing
their percentage of crimes. The
study pointed out that "m inorities
are over-represented in most
areas of the criminal justice
system and Oregon courts are no
exception. Non-whites were re­
ported by the U.S. Census as 5
percent of the state population in
1980, but this group made up 14
percent of the felons in the
study.”
Black Oregonians are working
very hard to eliminate crime from
their neighborhoods. To them, a
criminal is a criminal. It makes no
difference if he/she is Black or
white. However, they detest
media’s attempt to cripple their
neighborhoods by inaccurate,
negative, biased reporting.
The African-American commu­
nities in Oregon are no worse or
no better than other communities
throughout the state. Witness the
recent drug bust in Josephine
County of more than 30 suspects
or the proclamation issued to the
African-American community by
East County Skinheads, “ We are
determined to keep Blacks out of
our neighborhood.”
Without a doubt, many Black
Oregonians blame media irre­
sponsibility for the current flight
of panic stricken residents from
the North/Northeast communi­
ties. It would serve these citizens
well to realize that the communi­
ties of North/Northeast Portland
is as safe as the communities
they have moved to.
Black Oregonians have and will
continue to carry their share of
the burden of removing crime
from their communities. They will
continue to press for adequate,
workable programs. However,
they will not continue to allow the
media to create illusions that
work against the general health
and welfare of all citizens.
And, if crime, as the media pro­
ject it, is a matter of color, Black
Oregonians have much to be
worried abo ut...
FORMER PRIME MINISTER
NAKASONE SAYS:
Blacks
Are Dumb!
DO YOU AGREE?
HAVE YOU BOUGHT Z
TOYOTA CAR OR
SONY T.V. LATELY?
The Portland Observer salutes the Rev. Jesse Jackson for his visit and his
message to the children, parents, and residents of Columbia Villa. The
Observer also salutes the Rainbow Coalition and the Portland Chapter of
the Dukakis Campaign for combining forces to make it happen.
X
M’ * 4 •.,
The Struggle To Dream:
T
Ms. Aida M. Rashad
Administrative Secretary
Region
Blacks In Government
n ?
5* i
by Nyewusi Askari
Editor, Portland Observer
Mr. Don Dixon
Counselor, Jefferson High School I
&
f.*y y*
An Observer Special Report
1
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American Bridge Association
Hosts Roast Honoring Chatman
The Northwestern Section of
the American Bridge Association,
Inc. will host a ROAST honoring
Vernon V. Chatman, Saturday,
Oct. 29, University of Portland
Commons, 5000 N. Willamette
Blvd., no host social hour 6:30
p.m., buffet dinner 7:30 p.m.
Chatman, a member of the
Challengers Bridge Club, is a Life
Member of the Bridge Teachers
Academy and a first place winner
in the 1986 World Bridge Tourna­
ment.
A well-known resident, Chat­
man’s interest in Portland youths
far exceeds his interest in bridge.
He has been responsible for de­
signing and implementing pro­
jects which amounted to more
than $1 million dollars for scholar­
ships and loans to benefit minori­
ty and disadvantaged college stu­
dents. He has also served as
Scholarship Chairman for the
Portland Bridge Unit. He is former
Director of Education for the
Portland Urban League. He has
received numerous awards for
community service.
Among those roasting will be:
Ray Leary, Ken Adair, Paul
Knauls, Ellen Law, Lucious Hicks,
Ed West, Herbert Jackson, Helen
Rawlins. Ida McClendon, Beatrice
Leverett and Bobbie Nunn.
Michael Grice is Master of
Ceremonies. The Street Corner
Singers have been invited to
entertain also.
Donations for the ROAST are
$25 00 per person and are tax
deductible. Tickets available at
Mrs. C’s Wigs and Cash’s Barber
Shop, or call 254-3026.
The N orthw estern Section
which includes Portland, Seattle
and Tacoma will be hosting the
1989 American Bridge Associa
tion Summer Nationals to be held
at the Portland Hilton Hotel,
August 2-12.
• Of the 8,487 felons sentenc­
ed to prison in 1986, in Oregon, 86
percent (7,344) were white.
On the same hand, Black pri­
soners make up 15 percent of the
prison population at Oregon State
Penitentiary (491 +). Of the 8,487
felons sentenced to Oregon's
prisons, 7.8 percent, (685) were
Black.
According to a study, “ Felony
Sentencing Practices In Oregon’s
Circuit Courts: 1986,” African-
American prisoners are discrimin­
ated against when sentenced by
the courts. The study found:
• A high percentage of non­
whites, 22 percent, were con­
victed of person offenses than
whites. 17 percent.
• Drug offense were more
prevalent among whites, 20 per­
cent compared to 15 percent.
• Higher percentages of racial
minorities were convicted of rob­
bery and assault, while whites
were more likely to have been
convicted on one of the other sex
offenses, such as sex abuse or
incest.
• Overall, whites were mod­
erately less likely to be commit­
ted to prison relative to minority
offenders, 17 percent to 24
percent.
• Racial differences in com­
mitment rates were most pro­
nounced for drug offenses and
person offenses, with minorities
more likely to be sentenced to
prison.
CITIZEN OF THE WEEK
A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, Ms. Enmins Gates is very active
throughout Portland’s African-American community. The mother of four
beautiful children, Ms. Ermine is an active member of the Tri-County
Section of The National Council of Negro Women; a member of the Les
Femmes Club of Oregon; a member of the National Council of Negro
Women Scholarship Committee and a member of M t Olivet Baptist
Church.
Ms. Gates has been an employee of Tektronix, inc., Beaverton, for
the past 21 years. Presently, she works as a Press Operator and a Lab
Technical Assistant
The Portland Observer Is proud to salute Ms. Gates as Its' Citizen of
the Week.
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