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February 28, 1990 • Portland Observer • Black History Month • Page 5
Governor’s
Race
Dead-Locked
The New Governor’» Campaign in
Oregon for 1990 between Attorney General
David Frohnmayer and Secretary of State
Barbara Roberts is virtually "dead-locked”
according to the study commissioned by
the law firm of Vick and Gutzlcr of Port­
land and Salem.
Tlte Vick and Gutzler commissioned
study asked 600 voters statewide during the
week of February 14-16,1990 who would
be the choice for Governor. The results
were not as some Republicans in Oregon
had predicted.
According to the Vick and Gutzler
study, a survey conducted by the Wirthlin
Group of McClean Virginia, Frohnmayer
had a slim 33% to 28% lead over his guber­
natorial opponent, Barbara Roberts, who
recently entered the race after incumbent
Democrat Neil Goldschmidt announced he
would not seek re-election.
Vick and G utzler's study showed that
after many months of organization and
campaigning, A.G. Frohnmayer has con­
siderable weakness statewide. * ’This is par­
ticularly important in that Mr. Frohnmayer’s
lead over Goldschmidt has virtually van­
ished with Roberts in ‘the race’,’’ said Glen
Comuntizis, the Vick and Gutzler CMO
and Analyst for the study.
* * Dave and B arbara are virtually tied in
the tri-counties with Dave leading some­
what in the Willamette Valley and East of
the Cascades, but Roberts does well on the
coast and holds her own in Southern Ore­
gon," according to the report
“ This also portends some trouble for
GOP candidate Frohnmayer who, after ten
years of service as A.G. of Oregon finds
that he can barely muster a little over 30%.
As a consequence, Comuntzis stated that
Frohnmayer has a decided problem within
his own Party statewide ‘ ‘which a Republi­
can cannot afford in a state like Oregon
with a decided edge in registration to the
D em ocrats," he said.
The Vick and Gutzler study “ is good
news for the fledgling Roberts’ Campaign,
and, I would think very disturbing news to
the Frohnmayer Campaign, “ Comuntzis
reported, "U sually at this point in time in a
campaign in Oregon, virtually 80% o f the
electorate are decisive in their perceptions
for Governor. Yet, this one is barely 60%!
This means that the Republicans will be-
forced to rethink, to restrategize, and to
reconsider the entire process.”
Comuntizis reported, “ Mrs. Roberts
must be pleased because the study shows
that the playing field of Oregon politics is
now level, and she is free to engage her
political o p ponent” With the election only
nine months away, voters in Oregon are
taking a more than usual wait-and-see atti­
tude about their next governor.
Given the statistical error rate in the
study, the 33%-28% result makes this race
a virtual tie if the election were held today.
Chief Marketing Officer of the firm Vick
and Gutzler, Glen Comuntzis is the former
Political Field Director of the Republican
Governors Association, and former Re­
search Director of the National Republican
Congressional Committee, both in W ash­
ington, D.C. Vick and Gutzler maintain law
offices in Portland, Salem, Eugene, and
Hillsboro.
Research Center Documents Black History
by Henry Duvall
Millions o f Americans may observe
Black History Month every February, but
to a university-based research center in the
nation's capital. Black history is “ an eve­
ryday experience.”
Such noted Black figures as civil rights
activist Mary Church Terrell, actor/singer
Paul Robeson and former Ghanaian presi­
dent Kwame Nkrumah come to life among
the thousands of materials making up Howard
University’s Moorland-Spingarn Research
Center.
The center is so rich in materials docu­
menting historical experiences of people of
African descent that author Taylor Branch
conducted research there that contributed
to his award-winning book on the Ameri­
can civil rights movement, “ Parting the
W aters."
Author David J. Garrow also found
material that led to his biography of slain
civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.,
“ Bearing the Cross.” And noted historian
John Hope Franklin has relied on the facil­
ity for some of his work.
This past December, Moorland-Spin-
gam celebrated an anniversary: 75 years of
growth from a single donated collection to
a research facility recognized today as being
one o f the w orld's largest and most com ­
prehensive repositories on the history and
culture of Black people in Africa, Latin
America, the Caribbean and the United
States.
To honor the center for its “ outstand­
ing collection of cultural and historical
material,” the District of Columbia City
Council declared last Dec. 16 ’ 'Moorland-
Spingarn Research Center D ay” in the
nation’s capital.
"H ere the history of Black people is
our business—our only business,” says
Thomas Battle, Ph.D., director of the cen­
ter.
W hat’s significant is that “ Moorland-
Spingarn has the resources to document the
contributions of Black people in world
civilization,” he stresses in an interview.
Housed in the historically Black uni­
versity’s Founders Library, Moorland-Spin-
gam has more titan 115,000 volumes and
some 400 collections of manuscripts and
personal papers of such notables as former
Urban League president Vernon Jordan and
former Congressman Charles C. Diggs Jr.,
as well as archival records of the Congres­
sional Black Caucus and the Ancient Egyp­
tian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic
Shrine, among others.
It also has a collection of Black news­
papers, 700 tapes and transcribed inter­
views from the American civil rights
movement, several thousand recordings of
Black artists and more than 3,000 pieces of
sheet music from Black composers.
“ Part of our mission is to broaden the
understanding of Black history, to dissemi­
nate information, and to preserve Black
history wherever Black people have gone,’ ’
Battle explains. "E very month is Black
History Month at Moorland-Spingarn. Black
history is an everyday experience."
The 43-year-old director, who says he
has a “ deep-seated com mitm ent" to Black
history and preservation, points out that in
addition to students, researchers, writers
and scholars from around the globe pursue
research at Moorland-Spingarn.
Further, many requests for historical
materials, including photographs, come from
government agencies, public and private
schools, community groups, professional
organizations and the news media, espe­
cially around the time of Black History
Month, says Battle.
As early as 1873, when New York
abolitionist Lewis Tappan donated mate­
rial on anti-slavery activities, Howard
University began to establish a library
documenting the history of people of Afri­
can descent. But it wasn’t until 1914 that
the effort gained momentum.
In December 1914, Jesse Moorland, a
Howard alumnus and trustee who was a
secretary of the YMCA, donated his private
library of some 3,000 books and other
historical material on Black people to start
what has grown into the present-day re­
search center.
Instrumental in the center’s develop­
ment was Howard alumna Dorothy Porter
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Wesley, who was one of the first Black
women to earn a m aster's degree in library
science from Columbia University. In 1930,
she became the curator of the Moorland
Collection, and later played a major role in
acquiring another sizable collection, the
Spingam Collection.
In 1946, the university acquired the
collection of Arthur B. Spingam, a civil
rights attorney who served as president of
the National Association for the Advance­
ment of Colored People (NAACP) from
1940 to 1965. The Spingam Collection is
comprised of works by Black authors in
more than 20 languages, including rare
material from Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian
and Haitian writers.
Wesley spent 43 years building the
collections until she retired in 1973. “ We
view Dorothy Porter Wesley as our matri­
arch,” says Battle. “ She has taken the
various threads--collections and resources-
which have been woven into the fabric that
makes the Moorland-Spingarn Research
Center.”
Although the 1914 Moorland donation
was the cornerstone for the creation of a
major repository, it wasn’t until 1973 that
the university's collections were reorgan­
ized and expanded to form the present-day
Moorland-Spingarn Research Center. It
includes manuscript and library divisions,
and houses the Howard University Mu­
seum and archives.
Today, Moorland-Spingarn is in the
process of developing several collections,
including the documentation of the Black
Panther Party. It is also documenting the
work of Black Panther Party. It is also
documenting the work of Black architects,
anthropologists, journalists, lawyers, phy­
sicians and social scientists.
For the future. Battle would like to
develop an international organization of
“ friends of M oorland-Springam" to pro­
vide additional support for the center’s
collections. He also hopes for a bigger
facility “ to accommodate and maintain our
vast holdings, and provide research and
exhibition space, as well as expand our
preservation program ."
PORTLAND OBSERVER
FAX #
503)288-0015
by Ullyssts Tucker, Jr.
Not only is Kevin Johnson one of the
finest point guards in the NBA, he is a
decent human being with a strong sense of
community and social responsibility.
After renegotiating a very lucrative
contract with the Phoenix Suns lasts year,
the first thing he did was buy a piece of
property in Sacramento on which he plans
to build a community center. KJ said that he
wanted to give something back to the neigh­
borhood he grew up in. People gave to him
as a youth and he wants to do the same for
future generations. The center will be called
St. Hope Academy.
"W hen I speak about my success as an
athlete, I have to give credit to a lot of
people. There were so many people who
helped me along the way and who were
important to me at certain stages of my
life," said the third year Cal-Berkley prod­
uct
someone to try. You can clim b any moun­
tain. Success is based too much on whether
you win or lose, not enough on trying.”
With the inspired play o f Johnson, the
Suns are staying hot on the trail of tie
Blazers and they should make a solid run
down the stretch. KJ made the NBA Star
game this year also.
“ We use to be the underdogs but naiw
we can 't sneak up on anybody,’ he s&vl.
“ It’s a nice challenge. I ’m excited about
our chances and the way we have pro­
gressed this year.”
« *•« **•*« •*•*
Currenuy averaging 21.1 points per
game and 11.0 assists per game, Johnson's
objective is to enrich the lives of youngsters
culturally, educationally, and spiritually.
He wants to bring joy and hope in their lives
also.
“ I see so much confusion with young
people today,” he said. “ I want them to
know that someone cares about them and
encourage them to keep trying. It’s so easy
to give up. The whole goal is to teach
My heart goes out to Mark Bryant of
the Portland Trailblazers. This has been a
very tough year for him. First, his best
friend is still in a coma from a December
car accident and now, he loses his mother
(Harriett, 53, of South Orange) and aunt
(Ora M. Lance, 54, of Montclair, N.J.) in a
fatal crash. Stephen Bryant, his brother,
suffered a broken leg. His mother and aunt
were pronounced dead at the scene. Cards
to Mark can be sent to Trailblazers, 700 NE
Multnomah S t, Portland, Oregon 97232.
Please, Portland Observer readers, lend him
your support.
Mark, if I can say anything to comfort
you, don’t put a question mark where god
has put a period. God bless you, during your
times of trouble.
U.TJr.
\ce l/u,fl)illcieii(c
Safeway is in your Neighborhood to Stay
SAFEWAY
“Women and Racism”
Thursday, March 8,1990
7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
♦ What causes you more discrimina­
tion, your gender or your race?
♦ How (when, where) have you experi­
enced discrimination?
* What can we do to change things?
On International W om en's Day, come
to discuss these and related questions at the
Multnomah County Public Library, Main
Branch. S.W. 10th and Yamhill, Meeting
Room A. No admission fee.
Sponsored by the Undoing Racism
Committee of the W omen’s International
League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF),
Portland Branch. For more information,
call 224-5190.
Availability Subject To Coastal Weather Conditions
Black Cod/
Fillets /I
A firmer textured fillet... Great
to stuff and bake, to broil, pan
fry, add to stir-fry and more!
Don't Lose Federal
Child Care Tax Credit
If you are pay ing for child or dependent
care to allow you to work, there is a federal
income tax credit that can help defray some
of that cost. It’s called the Credit for Child
and Dependent Care.
This year, you could lose that tax credit
if you don’t supply the identifying number
of the person or company providing the
child care. Under changes in the law, you
are required to supply the dependent care
provider’s correct name, address and iden­
tification number (the Social Security
number, if the care is provided by an indi­
vidual) when you file your tax return for
1989.
This is true even if your child care is
provided through a program sponsored by
your employer. The only exception to this
requirement is if the care is provided by a
tax exempt organization, such as a church.
You can use an IRS Form W-10 to
obtain this information from your child
care provider.
Further information is available in IRS
Publication 503, “ child and Dependent Care
Expenses," which is available free by call­
ing 1-800-424-3676 (FORM).
P eeled Rock Shrimp
Fresh...This lobster-tasting
ro /» lz c h r i m n
ic n r o a t t o
O ft
6
c a n to
Clam Chowder Base
Pacific Fresh,
1 -Pound Pkg.
For a hearty meal.
mm
Ea.
SAFEWAY
United Way
If you care, share.
j
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