Page 7 Portland Observer JUNE 8,1989
PERSPECTIVES
McKinley Burt
Quite a few of last week’s readers
wanted to hear more about A bra
ham H annibal the great grandfather
of noted Russian author Alexander
Pushkin. Several commented how
odd it was that at the very same time
that the horrible institution of slav
ery was in full swing in America-
with its barbaric supression of mind
and dignity-the African brothers and
sisters in Europe were quite visibly
enriching the culture of the world.
Now,that is perceptive, for it is so
important to the education and mind
set of African-American youth (and
white) that they leant the full magni
tude of the Black contribution, not
just the involvement in the origin of
civilization. These vignettes of mine
can be used to expand their con
sciousness to include more of a world
that is growing smaller everyday under
the pressures of communications and
technology. The frightened, envious
and greedy racists cannot be allowed
to continue their imprisonment of
the Black mind, psyche and ambi
tions.
Abraham — Petrovich Hannibal
(1697-1781); At age 8 taken as a
hostage from an important family in
Ethiopiua and sold as a slave in Con
stantinople, the boy was purchased
as a gift for Czar Peter I of Russia.
This chief of Europe’s largest nation
adopted him as a godson and Queen
Christina of Poland became his god
mother. At his christening in the Greek
Orthodox Church in 1707 his given
name, Ibrahim waschanged to A bra
ham.
Abraham's father, a chieftan, traced
his son to Russia and on a visit there
informed the court that the family
surname was Hannibal as they were
descendants of the famed African
general of the same name (It was the
original Hannibal who look his army
and hundreds of elephants over the
mighty Alps to catch the Romans by
surprise).African footsteps clamor
loudly through the pages of Euro
pean history, in the arts and in tech
nology, and in war and peace.
The Czar was greatly impressed
with Hannibal’s aptitude for mathe
matics and engineering, and in 1717
sent him to Paris to study. As a pro
tege of the great emperor of Russia
he was received in the highestcircles,
becoming one of the most populace
young men in Paris. On his return to
Russia, he became an officer in the
engineering corp and was appointed
as a tutor in mathematics to the Crown
Prince.
Later, after the death of his pa
tron, Czar Peter II, Hannibal was
caught up in the intrigues of the court
and was exiled for 12 years. Finally
restored to grace by Empress Eliza
beth, he became Russia’s preeminent
engineer as well as a diplomat of
note. He drew the plans for a canal
linking St. Petersburg with Moscow
(the Logodar). Later he was commis
sioned to represent Russia in the
boundary-line dispute with Sweden.
Hannibal’s first wife presented him
with a white baby which he rejected
but cared for. His second wife whom
he married in 1736 bore him eleven
children. One of his sons, Ivan be
came a hero as admiral of a fleet and
was noted as the builder of the for
tress at Kherson, other sons became
generals and naval commanders. Loud
indeed were these footsteps in the
world’s history. And louder still were
the footsteps of the great grandson,
Alexander Pushkin who made the
Russian language alive and vibrant.
FREE CHILDREN’S HEALTH
CHECK-UPS, SUMMER CAMP
PHYSICALS AT SPECIAL CLINIC
Children 12 years and under may receive free physical exams at a special
Well Child Clinic on Saturday, June 10 from noon to 4:00pm at Portland
Naturopathic Clinic. This preventive health screening may also be used to
satisfy a summer camp physical exam requirement. Parent should call 255-
7355 for an appointment. Since the number of appointments is limited,
parents are urged to call early.
Portland Naturopathic Clinic is as part of National College of Naturopathic
Medicine, an international center for education and research in naturopathic
health care.
PROGRAM FOR DIS
PLACED
HOMEMAKERS
New Directions is a program for
Displaced Homemakers and Single
Parents. Services include personal
growth, career assessment, job place
ment, pre-training, and educational
support. The goal is to assist people
in overcoming obstacles to economic
independence.
Beaverton Branch Office of Adult
and Family Services Division reports
great results from this program. One
hundred-five welfare clients were
placed in jobs during the month of
March because of their involvement
with New Directions.
Individuals are required to attend
a free pre-career class four mornings
per week, for five weeks. Following
the pre-career class, the program
provides a one week career work
shop, support groups, job placement
and other educational opportunities.
Most services are free.
New Directions services are avail
able to individuals who are: Dis
placed Homemakers, who are sepa
rated, divorced, widowed or have a
disabled spouse and Single Parents
with children 18 or younger. Indi
viduals are required to live in W ash
ington County and must be socially
or economically disadvantaged. The
Rock Creek Campus of Portland
Community College is the site where
services are provided.
Funding and Steering Committee
representation provided by a joint
venture of Portland Community Col
lege, Oregon Department of Educa
tion-Carl Perkins Fund, Washington
County Community Development
Block Grant Program, Washington
County Housing Authority, Adult and
Family Services and Private Industry
Council.
LOOKING FOR THE
BEST HOMEBUYING
VALUE?
LUCKY YOU.
IT’S HUD
SIGN UP TIME!
When you see our sign up in your
real estate agent’s window, you’ll know
that this is a place that can make buying
your next home both easy and fast.
Your agent will tell you that HUD
homes are priced to be terrific values.
And with FHA M ortgage Insurance, a
buyer’s down payment can be just 3%.
So watch the Friday and Sunday
Oregonian for our weekly HUD home
listings, and then look for our "Buy a
HUD home here” sign.
For people who want a good deal
on a good home, it's a beautiful sign
of the times.
ALLEN TEMPLE
C.M.E. CHURCH
HUD
VACATION BIBLE
SCHOOL
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
€ 1999 0 , MUD Portland OHice
Equal Housing Opportunity
Vacation Bible School will be held
at Allen Temple C.M.E. Church lo
cated at 4265 NE 8th Avenue (8th &
Skidmore) on June 11-22 Sundays
through Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to
9:00 p.m.
THE CHEFS SPECIAL
AT THIS SPECIAL PRICE
*169
Until June 10th or while quantities last
This year get dad a gift the
whole family will enjoy all summer
long. The Kenmore Gas Grill. He'll love
its’ easy-does-it barbeque style and so will
you because nothing outcooks this Kenmore
on a cookout.
There’s no match for a Kenmore gas grill with
pushbutton start and 439 sq. in. of cooking space.
Get a free cookbook, grill cover and tool set
when you buy now.
So, go on, relax and enjoy the chef's house
special. It comes with our famous, money back
guarantee. That’s always the house special at Sears!
Your money 's worth
and a whole lot more.
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