February 7, 1990
Bronze Sculpture of Civil Rights Heroine
Debuts in Nation’s Capital
ST. LOUIS--A 2-foot tall cast bronze
statue of renowned civil figure Rosa L.
Parks is slated to make its national debut at
a celebration in Washington D.C., com ­
memorating Mrs. Parks’ 77th birthday.
Created by Artis Lane, acclaimed por­
trait artist and sculptress, the bronzing of
the statue was commissioned by St. Louis-
based Anheuser-Busch Companies in time
for the black-tie birthday gala which was
held on February 4th at the Kennedy Cen­
ter. The lifelike sculpture captures both the
dignity and quiet courage of its subject,
who is referred to affectionately as the
“ Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.”
In 1955, Mrs. Parks’ refusal to give up
her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus to
a white passenger led to a yearlong boycott
that sparked a national movement for racial
justice.
Commenting on the serene strength
and determination of the sculpture. Way-
man F. Smith III, vice president of corpo­
rate affairs at Anheuser-Busch Companies,
said, "This is a captivating work of art that
reflects Mrs. Parks’ dignity and com mit­
ment.’’ He added, “ Anheuser-Busch is very
pleased to make the presentation of this
sculpture possible in time for Mrs. Parks
77th birthday."
Artis Lane, creator o f the sculpture, is
nationally known for her portraits and bronzes
of famous people, including many Holly­
wood celebrities. A recent exhibit of her
bronze works at the M. Hanks Gallery in
Santa Monica, Ca. drew critical acclaim for
their sensitivity and spirituality.
Lane has exhibited her works all over
the world and has pieces included in the
collections of President and Mrs. Bush,
Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones, Bill Cosby
and Sidney Portier.
According to Anheuser-Busch's Smith,
efforts are under way to have the Rosa
Parks sculpture permanently displayed in a
prominent museum for the general public
to see and enjoy.
AFT Celebrates Black History Month
To kick off Black History Month this
February, the American Federation of
Teachers proudly salutes two of its charter
members, both leaders in the Black com ­
munity and in the labor movement.
"T h e pursuit of civil rights is one of
our union's proudest achievements," said
Albert Shankcr, president of the American
Federation of Teachers (AFT). "Since our
first day of operation in 1916, the American
Federation of Teachers has been in the
forefront o f the civil rights m ovem ent."
As early as 1918, the AFTembarked on
a campaign to demand equal pay for Black
teachers and called for the election of Blacks
to local school boards.
The AFT struggled to integrate its own
ranks and, finally, in 1957 expelled those
locals that refused to admit Blacks. In the
process, the union lost nearly 7,000 mem­
bers. The result, a fully integrated union,
was worth it.
Black leadership quickly developed
during this nascent period. Two worthy
examples of outstanding leadership were
Mary Church Terrell and Layle Lane.
Mary Church Terrell dedicated her life
to the advancement of Blacks, women and
the labor movement. In 1895, she was
appointed to a District of Columbia school
board, the first B lack woman in the country
to hold such a position. Terrell was also a
charter member of the National Associa­
tion of Colored Women and served as its
president from 1896 to 1901. She was a
charter member of the American Federa­
tion of Teachers.
Layle Lane was active in the teacher
union movement for 50 years, from the
early 1900s to 1952. She chaired the first
human rights committee for both the AFT
and its local in New York City in the early
1990s.
PCC Literacy Program
Sets Tutor Training at
Rock Creek
Commenting on the serene strength and determination of the sculpture, Wayman F. Smith III, vice president of
corporate affairs at Anheuser-Busch Companies, said, "This is a captivating work of art that reflects Mrs. Parks’ dignity
and commitment.” He added, "Anheuser-Busch is very pleased to make the presentation of this sculpture possible in
time for Mrs. Parks 77th birthday.”
B. Dalton Bookseller Celebrates
Black History Month With A
Black Interest Book Catalog
The Portland Community College Lit­
eracy Program will present a training ses­
sion for prospective tutors Saturday, March
24th, at the PCC Rock Creek Campus,
17705 NW Springville Rd., Hours will be
from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tutor trainer Marie Hermanson will
give an overview of the Volunteer Tutoring
Program and list volunteer opportunities in
the PCC district.
Tutors are needed days and evenings to
provide literacy help to adults of diverse
backgrounds. Volunteers will receive col­
lege credit and free tutor handbooks, said
Dorothy Brehm, program supervisor. Fur­
ther information is available from Brehm at
PCC, 244-6111, ext. 4903.
NEW YORK, N Y -T o celebrate Black
History Month, B. Dalton Bookseller is
offering a free catalog - featuring over 90
books concerning Black people, history
and culture - to customers in select B.
Dalton stores.
The full-color catalog includes a vari­
ety of categories such as biographies,
women’s literature, classic Black litera-
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Lane, a New York City social studies
teacher, also ran a summer camp for disad­
vantaged Black children. Her last assign­
ment was as an exchange teacher in Puerto
Rico.
"These women are representative o f-',
the many Black leaders, both past and pres-
ent, who fight for civil rights and human''-*
dignity," said Barbara Van Blake, AFT '*
director of human rights. "W e proudly; !
remember their accomplishments during-,..
Black History M onth.”
nZ
—1
Page IS • Portland Observer • Black History Month
PER MONTH*ON
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lure, fiction and folklore, children s books,
history, and culture and revolution. John
Edgar Wideman, author of a number of
award-winning and critically acclaimed
works, provides an inspirational introduc­
tion to the catalog. All of the featured books
are available at participating B. Dalton
stores.
Sensing a growing demand for black
interest books, B. Dalton significantly
expanded the existing Black Interest sec­
tion in its top 100 stores last year. The move
proved to be an especially successful one,
resulting in an overwhelming increase in
sales in that category. And while the trend
seems to be growing nationwide, Black
Interest sections in a number of stores —
such as Decatur, Georgia, where the local
B. Dalton has 1/3 of its space dedicated to
Black interest books -- continue to grow at
an astonishing rate.
Currently, the most popular Black in­
terest subjects are biographies, especially
those about Malcolm X and Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., and fiction including works
by Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, which
consistently show strong sales. ‘I Dream a
W orld,’ a collection of interviews and
photographs of Black women,who changed
America, Mark Mathabane’s ‘Kaffir Boy'
and ‘Kaffir Boy in America,’ Rev. Ralph
Abernathy's ‘And The Walls Came Tum­
bling Down’ and Harper Lee's "T o Kill a
M ockingbird' are a few of the titles doing
exceptionally well at this time. Stores have
also reported a blossoming interest in juve­
nile books, as more and more parents select
titles which include Black characters, folk­
lore and history.
According to Steve Riggio, Executive
Vice President, “ W e’re delighted that the
Black Interest category is being explored to
a greater degree. Our intention is to keep
providing a varied selection of quality books
in that section and continue to nurture its
development through expansion, promo­
tion and increased awareness and dedica­
tion from the buyers and store personnel.”
Last Week To See,
Field To Factory:
Afro-American
Migration, 1915-1940
(A S m ith s o n ia n In s titu tio n
T ra v e lin g E x h ib itio n )
Opened Until February 11th
Interstate Firehouse C ultural C enter
5340 N. Interstate Avenue
Portland, Oregon
(T ri-M et Bus #5)
(503) 243-7930
Mon. & Thurs., 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.;
Tues. & Weds., 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.;
Friday, 12 Noon - 4:00 p.m.; Saturday, 12
Noon - 4:00 p.m.; Sunday, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00
p.m.
Sponsored by Fred Meyer Charitable
Trust, Oregon Committee for the Humani­
ties (an affiliate of the National Endow­
ment for the Humanities), Oregon Art Insti­
tute, Oregon Historical Society, Pepsi-Cola
Company, Oregon Arts Commission, M et­
ropolitan Arts Commission, and City of
Portland.
Black Families and the
Railroad in Oregon and
the Northwest: An Ora,
History Shown Feb. 11,
Lecture and Show
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Michael Grice will lecture and show
his video production. Black Families and
the Railroad in Oregon and the Northwest:
An Oral History, at Interstate Firehouse
Cultural Center, 5340 N. Interstate Ave­
nue, Sunday, Fcbraury 11, 1990 at 4:00
P.M
The traveling exhibit from the Smith
sonian Institution exhibition, Field To Factor
welcomes the public to come sharcthei
experiences at this event on the final day o
the exhibit sponsored in part by the Orcgoi
Committee for the Humanities and Frci
Meyer Charitable Trust.