Page 6 • Portland Observer • January 26, 1989 Allowance: The Sum Is Up To You by Gaylene Bickham Many times, I think of what Port land truly has to offer youth, espe cially African-Am erican Youth. And, I find that the proposition is of great capacity, and, because of this, I am inclined gradient to believe that 1989 can hold great prom ise ; a great prom ise of opportunities, unlimitedness and the power to place our feet on the ground, jum p as high as we can and get on it! There are opportunities for those who wishy to excel, such as Math Engineering Science Association (M E S A ), The Self Enhancement Program, Upward Bound and Broth ers Gaining Equality Through Excel lence. All these program s are de signed to help us becom e the best that we can be. As for finding out about scholarships other than the ones mentioned in announcements, there is the Post High School Opportunities Resource guide. This guide can be picked up in your High School C oun selor Office. There are also programs designed to assist students in under standing lessons in an even better way: the W hitney Young Learning Center. There is the Private Industry Council that can place you in a job or a great youth program. Through all this, it is clear that there are organiza tions inclined to help students make good decisions and clearly this means that you are not all alone. It is im por tant to keep in mind that Portland may be a small city, but it has plenty to offer. I mean, have only named a few of the great program s com pared to the trem endous am ount there are here in Portland. It is because of this that there is no reason why there should be any stopping/sojourning in anything you do. African-Am erican y o u th -a s with other youth, the opportunity begins in the class room. Now based on the information given by the Enrollment Report of Portland Public Schools Oct. 1988, we have 8,176 African- American Students enrolled in Port land public schools. In the schools, as well as at home, we are often told that the key to success is education, and keep in mind that, we will be faced with a challenge. So as students we must do the best that we can. PEER PRESSURE He then replied "They are my homees and they are there when I need them ." Before I could even ask he then went to tell me that he joined a gang because he once was beat up by the opposing gang so that led him to join. "Taylor what is there to do in a gang for fun?" "W e kick it.” "Can you be more specific?" “ W e wear our colors, go to parties and chill." "Taylor how do you feel about being Black?” "I'm proud to be Black." “ How can you be proud to be Black when it is the activity that you are involved in that is causing a degen eration in the Black population?" “ Well if someone messes with me, I mess with them, it's an eye for an eye." "W ell if it was an eye for an eye every one would be blind. But even still it makes no difference to you?" “ Nope.” "W ell through what you have just told me, it seems to me since you can just sit and say that you will mess with anyone who messes with you m ean ing even when it is that of your own kind rather than tell them what's right, means you really don’t care or feel anything about the Black race, let alone are you able to feel proud?" He said nothing. I discussed many more issues as far as his gang activity is concerned which will appear in an article later to come. \Ne as a public must keep the gang Come See What’s New At Your... NEWLY REMODELED f Dr. Martin L. King, Jr, A finely-detailed porcelain portrait bust, by Olvero Height: 10 Inches Width: 8 Inches Ebony Color Weight: Including Solid Walnut base is 2 Lbs., 8 Ounces violence from spreading. As of now the gang toll is much smaller than what we believe. At one point I thought there were hundreds of gang mem bers when in reality according to the Police Department there are only 152 active youth gang members here in Portland. All of this, as far as youth joining gangs, can be considered as ignorance. Ignorance to the opportu nities, ignorance to knowing how important school is and all the advan tages or it can be the ignorance of the parent to make the child aware. But who knows? Well, next week you will and I will to.. In the mean time, keep in mind that as far as allowance is concerned, the sum is up to you. Please Allow 5 Weeks For Delivery This attractive porcelain is yours for only $75. Oliver Tracy, Box 14265, Portland, Oregon 97214 For more information please call (503) 235-0481 Gaylene Bickham is a Junior at Jefferson High School She is also the recipient ■ of a scholarship award from the Portland Observer. /IA fi/J / jdh G row ing To S erv e Y ou B etter! Designed for people on the go, your Safeway Deli Shop is a full-service deli that offers you a vast array of tantalizing deli favorites, both hot and cold. Cheeses, imported and domestic, deli meats sliced to order, freshmade sandwiches, ready-to-bake pizza, and carefully prepared hot foods are just a few of the offerings to be found. For a quick and delicious dinner treat, try our deli-licious fried chicken available in dinner boxes with salad, roll & honey...or in chicken pack boxes. Also featured in our Deli Shop is our take-out Salad and Soup Bar. Choose from over 40 fresh ingredients at our salad bar where you can create your own fresh salad or try our tasty coleslaw, bean and pasta salads for a change of pace. However there is a flip side to that. There are some African-American Youth who are given the Power created for them selves by them selves to som eone else. They do this by peer pressure or by joining Youth Gangs. Both of these things are put into act by students who feel less than. Now, it is not as if only African-Am ericans are the only ones who have THESE PROBLEMS, but we do have a small percentage of people compared to other races and the last thing we need is a degeneration in our population. Peer pressure is a serious matter, especially for youth. I rem em ber a tim e when I was in the 5th grade and there were these black knee high boots and these Jet-Set bell bottom pants that I had. My m other bought these two items thinking that I would really like them but I didn’t. These two items wou Id sit in my closet day in and day out. until finally, my mom realized this and made me wear them to school. At this point, I thought it would be the worst day of my life. But, I thought I knew a way to fix that: I would sneak some clothes in my book bag. When we arrived at the school, my mom asked to see my book bag, and then busted me for sneaking the clothes. So, I had to wear this nice jacket and sweater with these ugly bell bottoms and boots that I hated. It was terrible. I sat in my desk the whole day. I didn’t eat lunch and I didn't even go out to recess to play kick ball with my best friend. I didn’t even go to the bath room until 3:30 p.m after school. When I think back, I laugh, but then again, I am glad I am not like that today, because peer pressure causes people to do things they would never do under normal circumstances-such as sneak clothes to school or what ever else. But, many students feel that they don't fit in if their clothing is not up to par, or if they don't have what the other people around them have. If there was not so much emphasis on clothing, a lot of this would not hap pen. What needs to be kept in mind is that people make clothing, clothing doesn’t m ake people I recently spoke with a gang member. We will call him Taylor "I firs, asked wha, does a gang do for him ” COME, CHECK OUT THESE SPECIALTY DEPTS. 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