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Volume XIX • Number 4
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ERVER
PORTLAND
January 26, 1989
The Eyes and Ears of the com m unity
Portland State University Blames
Langston Hughes Play For Deficit
bv Garland Lee Thompson
Linda King
Library Clerk
N. Portland Branch
Danier Coppedge
Markham Middle School
“ A deficit of over $20,000 was
posted by the 1988 Sum m er Pro
gram, according to a Dec. 1, 1988
memorandum from Education Activi
ties Director Nina Lowry to Robert
Vieira, acting vice provost for student
affairs.
This opening quote in Tuesday's
Jan. 18,1988, issue of the Vanguard,
Portland State University’s student
newspaper, that ran below the “mega
points” black caption, “ Play Blamed
For Deficit.”
The alleged play “ culprit,” PSU’s
newspaper is referring to is Langston
Hughes' classic 1958 musical, “ Sim
ply Heavenly,” which played the Lin
coln Hall Theatre at PSU during the
Summer Session, “ 88 at the Univer
sity. Langston would have loved it!
“ According to Lowry, the budget
for the 1988 Summer Program was
approximately $7,000. Administrated
by E.A. (Educational Activities), the
program usually presents “ mini-ver
sions” of student group programs,
such as the Film Com m ittee’s free
movie screenings, the Music Com
m ittee’s Brown Bag concerts in the
park, and exhibits in the cam pus art
galleries
With the 1988 Sum m er Program,
however, Lowry attempted to estab
lish a link with the Black com m unity in
Portland by “presenting a fully-staged
production of a work by a Black play
wright, with an all-Black cast and a
professional Black director.”
A key point the Vanguard is quoted;
“ The Sum m er Session Theater Pro
gram (“ The Sum m er Theatre Festi
val") was canceled due to previous
deficits (that right, it is reported to be
$40,000 and the Jack Featheringill
com pany was expected to lose
$25,000 in 1988 which is the as
sumed reason it was canceled), leav
ing the theaters available for this
project. The Lincoln Hall theatre was
to be dark all sum m er if no project are
brought in. “ So where is the Beef?" It
was “Simple, according to Thompson!”
“ The University had been under
fire for not reaching out to the Black
com m unity,” Lowry said. “ It was a big
risk to do it right." “ Innovation re
quires risk,” so I’ve read somewhere.
"Lowry was hoping the risk would
pay off-to the tune of $30,000, enough
to pay the costs of the show with a
profit to put toward future projects
(such as a annual Black Theatre
Festival or project).
The Vanguard states: “ She con
tacted Garland (Lee) Thompson
(founder of the Frank Silvera W riters'
W orkshop), a New York-based direc
tor who had worked with PSU Up
ward Bound Program.
THE FIRST TIME IN PORTLAND
FOR PLAY’S 30TH
ANNIVERSARY
“ Thompson proposed “ Simply
Heavenly,” a play with music by
Langston Hughes that he had suc
cessfully mounted in New York (it
was Philadelphia's New Freedom
Theatre) with his own theater com
pany. They began production in early
May (it was actually July) and opened
the doors of the Lincoln Auditorium
the last weekend of August for a
three-week run.” This was the first
time, “ Simply Heavenly,” had ever
played in this City and the thirtieth
anniversary since it last played the
W est Coast (1958 in Los Angeles,
which Thompson was a actor, the kid
newsboy).
“The show was wonderful,” said
Sue Busby, director of the Interstate
Firehouse Cultural Center, a publicly-
supported ethnic cultural center and
theater. “ It was a special treat for
everbody in the co m m u n ity... It was
sad that seats were em pty.”
"Low attendance was responsible
for large part of the Sum m er Program
deficit, according to Lowry. But opin
ion is divided on who was responsible
for the empty seats."
BLACK COMMUNITY
LET US DOWN
“In her memo to Vieira, Lowry stated
Black community leaders and the Black
PSU faculty members she and Th
ompson had assumed would help fill
the auditorium, let us dow n.” (The
truth of the matter is that Dr. Darrell
Millner, PSU’s Chairman of the Black
Studies Dept. did attend and sup
ported the production). There are only
a hand full of Black teachers at the
University to begin with, so who are
they talking about? What leaders and
who in the community were asked to
assist?
The article goes on to state: “To
make $30,000, the show would have
to draw 209 people paying the full $12
ticket price each night of the 12 show
run.
According to Busby, special pro
motion is required to fill a hall, espe
cially for an ethnic show. Block ticket
sales to church groups, sororities,
and community organizations must
be lined up months in advance. She
said she begins six months before a
show's opening, just to line up an
audience." “ Radio and newspaper
advertising, and posters in the com
munity are fine for a big market like
New York, she said, but in a small
market like Portland, a producer must
have key people committed to bring
ing in an audience.
The gross receipts from the door
amounted to approximately $5,000.
She estimates that EA spent approxi
mately $24,000 on the play, including
$12,600 in salaries for actors, musi
cians and production (PSU) em ploy
ees. In her m emo to Vieira, Lowry
requested that the deficit of the
Summer Program be covered by the
year-end balance from the combined
Educational Activity programs, which
are funded by student incidental fees.
Her request was approved by Vieira
and Lee Shissler, chairman of the
Incidental Fees Committee. Does PSU
want the Black community to repay
the debt? What do you think? Write
us at the Observer office. Are we to
blame or what? W ho is under attack
here?
Retrogressive Journalism Invades Portland
by Stephen E. McPherson
Michelle Knight
W hitaker Middle School
Aneer Lomax
Kenton Elementary
ANNOUNCEMENT
I have been offered the op
portunity to take on special
writing assignm ents for the
Portland Observer.
Because of this, I w ill be
on leave as News Editor for
approxim ately two months.
During those months, in
addition to writing assign
ments, I will finish a major
stage play, a series of chil
dren stories and produce
other work relating to the
performing arts and African-
American Culture.
Nyewusi Askari
A scurrilous scandal sheet recently
oozed from the primeval muck to
emerge in Portland wreaking with
yellow journalism, racism and unm iti
gated hatred. At first glance, one’s
inclination is to dismiss this rubbish
as the rambling of a very sick mind.
But then again this was exactly what
was said more than fifty years ago
when a house painter from Germany
initiated his particular brand of politi
cal ranting. Since this new publication
has such strong political overtones,
we cannot ignore it because our re
cent experience has taught us that an
impaired mind is not a strong impedi
ment against gaining a high political
office, not only at the local level but
especially in the state house and on
more than one occasion entree to the
oval office, itself.
It is too often that the Constitution
of the United States has been em
ployed as a subterfuge to cam ou
flage the evil intent of some mis
guided miscreant. In this case it cloaks
itself in the questionable respectabil
ity of the Northeast Reformer and
then launches an unbridled attack
against the community, its represen
tatives and individual citizens. It is
very conceivable that one could have
a very legitimate criticism of anyone
of the persons m entioned in the ar
ticle, but when one shoots into a
crowd with a double barreled shotgun
in order to get just one culprit, then it
is the veracity of the assailant that is
called into question together with the
legitimacy o f their accusations.
It is particularly distressing to note
the manner in which the writer pres
ents its story. Any one with the least
amount of sensitivity to the Black
com m unity and it’s concerns would
not have portrayed the Northeast
com m unity as “ possum hood.” Even
when these words are spoken through
Pogo, the comic strip character, the
insult remains. Professional ethics
prevent this w riter from repeating the
perjorative characterizations that were
employed to describe key persons at
the King Neighborhood Facility.
This mean little missile of hate
received wide distribution throughout
the city. It is interesting to note that a
person with a similar name as the
N.E. Reform er’s authoralso receives
public assistance. Certainly the ex
penses involved in this effort were not
trivial. The question arises as to
(Continued To Page 2)
CITY OF
Dick Bogle. Commissioner
1220 S.W Fifth Avenue
Portland. Oregon 97204
(503) 248 4682
PORTLAND, OREGON
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
January 19, 1989
National Urban League Releases “ The
State of Black America 1989;” Panel Of
Black Scholars Analyze Key Issues
John E. Jacob, President and Chief Executive Officer of the
National Urban League will lead a panel of distinguished Black scholars
in an analysis of key issues confronting Black America during the
release of The State of Black America 1989 at 10 a.m., Tuesday,
January 24 at the National Press Club in Washington, D C.
The authors and articles are:
Dr. John O. Calmore, “ To Make W rong Right: The Necessary and
Proper Aspirations of Fairi-lousing;” Dr. Price M. Cobbs, “ Valuing Diver
sity: The Myth and the Challenge;" Marian W right Edelman, “ black C hil
dren in Am erica;” Dr. Charles Hamilton, "O n Parity and Political Em pow
erm ent;” Dr. Robert B. Hill, “ Critical Issues for Black Families by the
Year 2000;" Dr. C. Eric Lincoln, "Knowing the Black Church: W hat It Is
and W hy;” Dr. W ade W. Nobles along with Dr. Lawford L. Goddard,
“ Drugs in the African-American Community: A Clear and Present
Danger;” Dr. David Swinton, “ Economic Status of Black Am ericans;”
and Dr. Reginald C. W ilson, “ Black Higher Education: Crisis and
Promise.”
The State of Black America 1989 will also be telecast via The
Howard University Black College Satellite Telecom m unications Net
work and its affiliate network to more than a million people across the
nation.
The State of Black Am erica 1989 addresses some of the dispari
ties existing in the country and is the most authoritative docum ent
examining the current status and conditions of blacks in America. The
report also gives insight into issues that need to be addressed and the
work that must be done tow ards making a just and equitable society. The
1989 report is the fourteenth annual edition.
NOTE: The Portland Observer will print summaries Qf„fliajQt
papers in the State of Black America in next w eek’s editorial.
Newsletter: An Affront To
Portland's African-American
Community
The N ortheast Reform er, a
newsletter of the worst kind, defines
itself as “ A solid expression of the
truth, justice, the American way and
the editor's personal opinions.” The
newsletter is supposedly published
by a faceless, obscure group called
“The Northeast Reform Com m ittee,”
chaired by Joyce Boles. Boles also
takes credit as the newsletter’s editor.
The newsletter claims it is “ about,
by, and for reformers in inner-North-
east Portland.” It's targets? The NE
Coalition of Neighborhoods, and the
welfare system. However, once a
reader has stumbled through the hog
wash of stated objectives, it becomes
clear that Ms. Boles and com pany
should be called "The Northeast De-
Formers.”
Case in Point: In the January 1989
issue of the Reformer, Mr. Ronnie
Herndon is referred to as “ "Alron
Hernigator,” Ms. Edna Robertson as
“ Miss Boombah Robertson,” and Mr.
Charles Ford as “ Model C. Ford."
In a story entitled “The Front Page,"
Pogo, the Possum from the Walt Kelly
Comic Strip, is found at the Tippin’
Inn, drinking and talking a language
found only in Ms. Boles imagination.
First, Ms. Boles and com pany is
outta step, outta pocket, outta mind
and outta tim e with Portland’s largest
African-American community.
The attack on Mr. Herndon, Ms.
Robertson and Mr. Ford is intolerable,
unacceptable and de-filing. Our
community does not share or support
the Reformer’s bold and tacky attempt
to defam e respected m em bers of
O re g o n ’s
A fric a n -A m e ric a n
leadership.
Secondly, the Reform er’s use of
the comic strip character, Pogo, as a
so-called dumb-witted, Black language
talkin’ possum, is a serious affront to
the entire African-Am erican com m u
nity. This is not satire or caustic wit.
This is blatant degradation parading
itself as satire.
Like any American citizen, Ms. Botes
and com pany is protected by free
speech and those so-called other good
things guaranteed by the U.S.
Constitution. However, when those
rights are abused and when the Afri
can-American community is the stage
upon which the abuses are enacted
or played out, the community is obli
gated to respond in its own behalf.
W e don’t need Ms. Boles brand of
yellow journalism nor do we need her
as a self-appointed prosecutor, Judge
and Jury on African-American lead
ership and affairs.
And ... If Ms. Bole’s newsletter is
an indication of reform, we all are in
tro u b le ....
S enior of the W eek
Dear Readers of The Portland Observer:
Earlier this month, 1 was sworn into office for my second
four-year term as your City Commissioner.
I want to thank every one of you who voted for me and
supported me.
My roots run deep in this community.
I take your
support to my heart, and never for granted.
In addition to representing all the people of Portland, I
feel a deep and everlasting responsibility to all people of
color.
X never forget who I am, or where I sprang from.
These are perhaps the most difficult times in history for
parts of North and Northeast Portland.
constantly aware of this.
My staff and I are
Our Job is finding solutions that work
to break the grip of fear existing in many neighborhoods, and to
create an equality of livability throughout the city.
My mind, and my door, are always open.
Remember, I am here
at City Hall for you, so please don't hesitate to call me with
your questions or concerns.
If I am tied up, someone in my
office will get back to you, just as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Dick Bogle, Commissioner
Department of Public Safety
Mr. V.L. Bush resides in
N.E. Portland. Came to
Portland, January 9, 1943
from Huntsville, Ala., to work
in the shipyards.
He has held many jobs
since. Montgom ery Ward
Nabisco - 241/2 years;
Multnomah Hotel - 5 years.
Retired January 31,1975.
Mr. Bush is Meniker of
Vancouver Ave. Baptist
Church. Pastor (Rev. O.B.
Williams) where he serves
on Deacon Board.
He is a m em ber o f Enterprise #1, W illam ette Construction #23,
Potluck Comm. Urban League of Portland. Past m em ber of the Urban
League of Portland Advisory Board.
He is married to the lovely Mrs. Cealo Bush, w ho also works
every 2nd W ednesday, with Potluck Comm. Urban League of Port
land.
Hobbies are fishing and hunting (33 years).
Mr. Bush will celebrate his birthday January 20.
His hobbies include reading, public speaking, and basketball.