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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 21, 1990)
^*8® 2 * P o r tla n d O b s e r v e r M a r c h 21, 1990 4 Z E ditorial / O pinion r - 1 i- ................... The New Immigration, Part li: I Letters to by Professor McKinley Burt V: -i • V. » <• .‘/O ?* . ib s I Refuse to Date Women with Children, Also! Dear Editor It « u m ea m e how much conversation the su ry . "W hy I D o Not Data W omen With Children," written by Ullysscs Dicker, generated in my family and an m y job. Women with children were the only ones offended. What people must understand is what Tucker stoaed com es from his life experiences. I refuse to date women with children, also. It is a personal choice. My sister said that he gives single mother» a bad name. My opinion is the opposite. He, Tucker, said that he had a problem not with the single mothers, but with the fathers who do not accept another man raising their children. 1 was once shot at by sa ex-husband. A s the one sister wrote last w eek, if Tucker had intentions o f bring ing people closer together, he fell short o f his goal. However, I think his intention was not to "R oast" single Black mothers, but to share the painful personal experience he organized and committed African-Ameri c a n s -if not in Portland. I recommend early planning and structure even though there may not be any current situations requiring confrontation and litigation. The indige nous population o f this country is steadily increasing, butressed by a similar rise in immigration. Foreign investors are exert ing great pressures on land values, both urban and rural. African-Americans should have their structures in place in order to realize the wealth o f their heritage. One o f the most unusual o f family reunions was held September, 1988 In Creswell, North Carolina. Prom as f a r t m y as Seattle and N ew York, 2 0 0 0 descendants o f slaves sought their roots and celebrated Black history on the grounds o f Somerset Place, a restored antebellum plantation. This restored rice and lumber complex was the site o f the second homecoming for the clan that issued from the slave couple, Joe and Ellen Collins. The reunion was the inspiration of Dorothy Spruill Redford whaae dedicated research led not only to the iden tification o f the thousands of members o f her clan, but launched several Black history projects and the publication o f a book. At this latest reunion a play was performed about “ Harriet Tubman and her Under ground Railroad." A dance ensemble fol lowed a vivid choreography based upon a "John Kooner" dance which was said to have originated on the Somerset Planta tion. One o f the descendants declared,' * W e are not here to mourn, but to rise from the ashes—to celebrate and walk proudly*' (Charles Blount, 67; majority leader o f the Maryland State Senate). It occurs to me that som e serious read ers may wish to use an old tried-and-true method o f reaching unknown relatives that of running ads in African-American com munity newspapers in various parts o f the country. I recommend the master list of over a hundred given in the publication below (This 176 page, 8-1/2" x 11" manual has much other valuable information, Bat ing thousands o f Black organizations under cultural, busmess, educational and scien tific headings). Send $12.95 + $3.00 pott age for the 1989 African-American Black Book: International Reference Ouide. Na tional Publications Sales Agency, Inc., National Plaza, 1610 East 79th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60649. (Continued from Front Page) the Editor .' =ce Planning The Family Reunion: Conclusion I am sure that many o f you saw the Smithsonian traveling exhibition at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center during January and February o f this year: "Field- To-Factory; Afro-American Migration, 1915- 1940," During this period hundreds o f thousands o f African-Americans left the rural south in search of better lives in urban areas of the north. This massive movement, with its demographic implications (inspired by the magnet of industrial jobs created by two World Wars), set the stage for contem porary urban life in the inner-city. Although the Great Migrations have spawned many debates, we cite here the significance o f the cultural and family dis locations that have given added meaning to the family reunion process. Examination of this diaspora gave rise to last w eek’s obser vation that without structure, planning and communication among family elements, the inevitable results are the forced sales to facilitate distribution o f monies to quarrel ing heirs--or tax foreclosures upon elders who can no longer cope. However, eco nom ic as w ell as emotional ties can be restored, links that can lead to profitable as well as pleasurable associations. Our much- threatened family stability can be re-estab lished. An October 25,1 9 8 6 article in the New York Times illustrated how the planning and communications structure can lead to the retrieval of valuable resources that would otherwise be lost. This exploitative saga began sixty years ago in Louisiana's plaquem- ines Parish when in an all too typical in stance the African-American Pinkins fam ily was paid only $700 for two acres o f land seized by the state for a spillway. Told that without the project the City o f New Orleans would be flooded, the Blacks in the area gaveup some o f the richestoil and gas lands in the Delta for a mere pittance (Good o le ’ Charlie Brown). Determined, well-planned organization and cooperation among heirs and descen dants in both the north and south have not only resulted in initial recovery o f sizeable revenues (1984), but the state has been forced to place all subsequent revenues in escrow pending Supreme Court decisions which promise to be favorable. The age-old game o f stealing Black wealth by the ploy of eminent domain was stopped dead in its tracks; at least here where there were w ell- Will There Be Room At The Inn? had as a child. He noted that he lost his father in a domestic fight or aa he said, his father was killed by his girlfriend’s boy friend. He also related an incident that happened to his friend. You can not discard a person's personal experiences. Lastly, there are women out there who w ill not «late men with children. It goes both ways. Perhaps, those complaining should have the courage to share their personal struggles and innermost pain by writing also. I am sure that you could use guest writers every now and then. I gu est if what Tucker said was in Ebony or JET, then people would have not moaned and groaned to much. They would much rather believe that “ Novoeaine” than a person who speaks from the heart I am moat happy that your paper has the guts to let Tucker share of h im self so freely. A concerned and regular reader, I am Sergio J. Houston, Gresham To Our Customers, From Portland General Dear Editor Portland General Electric plans Io ask permission to increase its electric prices starting on Jan. 1, 1991. This w ill be our first request since 1984. Several factors make this request necessary, including coat increases, customer growth, and service improvements. For example: * Inflation has pushed up the cost o f the equipment, supplies, and labor w e use to pnreide your service. D ie Consumer Price Index in the Portland area has increased 17 percent since 1984. * Our property taxes have gone up, too, from $24 m illion in 1984, to $34 million last year. * W e are dramatically increasing our efforts to help you use energy more effi ciently. PGE plans to invest $15 m illion in energy efficiency and conservation pro grams next year. Energy audits, weatheri- xatxm, better fighting, and more efficient equipment are all part o f our plans. * We continue to improve the quality o f our service. We are better at responding Io customer «tails and pow er outages, and w e are w astin g to improve oar electrical system to prevent som e outages from oc curring at alL * W e are investing in the Trojan Nu clear Plant ro that it can produce more o f it* lower-coat electricity while further ensur ing the highest standards o f safety. We expect Trojan to produce 2 percent more electricity next year - enough for 15, 000 EFFECT ON YOUR BUDGET If the Oregon Public Utility Commis sion (PUC) approves PGE’s request, prices for residential customers w ill rise at the start o f 1991 from an average o f 4.6 cents to 5.1 cents per kilowatt-hour, an increase o f 11 percent. A kilowatt-hour is the amount o f electricity used by 10 100-watt light bulbs, for one hour. The effect on your budget depends on how much energy you use. Customers us ing 1,000 kilowatt-hours would see then- bills go from $46.21 a month to $51.28. PUBLIC PA R D C IPA D O N Setting rates is a public process. Our request w ill be submitted to the PUC by the end o f March. A copy w ill be available for review at each PGE office. The PUC will spend several months studying our request, and listening to comments and testimony from others. You can submit written testi mony or make comments at public hear ings. Your comments w ill be part o f the evidence the PUC considers in making its decision. To get information on how to participate, you can contact the PUC in Salem at 378-6600. or 1-800-522-2404. If you would like additional information on our customer services, or on our rates, please call your PGE office. The number in the Portland area is 228-6322, or you eaa call 1-800-542-8818. Thank you. 'Send me your p o o r. . . homeless." The following self-serving statement by a new immigrant from India, serving aa a highly paid political analyst in W ashing ton, represents a not untypical viewpoint of many newcomers (and many establishment Americans): "And the melting pot not only remakes the immigrant, if also reshapes the country. New generations o f immigrants bring vitality. The fresh new stream keeps the old water from stagnating.” Can you believe this what should be said about the fantastic and often ignored contributions o f African Americans, their inventions, their poetry, their music? That was just the beginning: “ Cur rently, the Asians are remaking the country much the same way that the Europeans once did. I look to them and their off- spring-those who populate spelling bees and win Westinghouse Science Scholar- sh ip s-w h en I envision America’s future greatness. In their zeal to reshape their lives in this land o f opportunity, these im mi grants are reshaping American destiny far beyond the comprehension o f most Ameri cans.” Next week we will see if this is "beyond the comprehension" o f those middle class Blacks we described. We will conclude this w eek’s article with som e relevant reading. * The Rise o f the Unmeltable Ethnics, Michael Novak, 1973. McMillan Publish ing Co. * The Mismeasure o f Man, Stephen Jay Gould, 1981, Penguin. * The Leopard’s Spots: Scientific Atti tudes Toward Race in America, 1815-59, William Stanton, 1960, University o f Chi cago. * Race and Civifi- zation, Friedrich Hertz, 1970 KTAV Publish ing. •G oing to Amer ica, Terry Coleman, 1973 Anchor Books. C N O E N X T T I N W U E E E D K 'American Employment Hotel" t w L. Harrison Chairman o f the Board, Chtef Executive Officer S a y You S a w It In The . . . . Portland Observer Support Our Advertisers ;$ *¿ * » * Wc Can't S p e ll S cc e ss W ithout U!\ CREED OF THE BLACK PRESS <á T h e Black Press b d ie v a that A m erica can beet lead the world away from social and aaOonai antagonisms when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color, or The Locker Room creed, fe ll to m a n and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person, the Black Prem strives to help every person In the firm belief that all are h u rt as long as anyone Is held back. by Ullyues Taeketr,°fr, - » a m ím f w : es * _»• ' 7 : s it The Dream” Gives Nightmares. . . Akeem Olajuwon is known around the National Basketball Association as "The Dream,” but he is a nightmare to opposing centers around the league when they play Houston. “ The Dream” has the total package. He runs the floor, blocks shots, scares points, passes the ball well for a big man, and steals the ball. Olajuwon is part o f a new era o f young centers who have set a new standard for those making a living in the paint. A No. 1 overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, Olajuwon has averaged 23 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 3.1 blocked shots per game. Last season, he became the first player in N BA history to record 200 steals and blocks in a season. He also became only the fourth center in history (along with George Mikan, Kareen, and Wilt) to be named to the A ll-N BA First Team for three consecutive years. “ I definitely think dominant centers are now making a comeback,’ ’ said Olajuwon. "T hese things seem to go in cycles. The big thing about the other guys (Patrick Ewing and David Robinson) is they are young, so they w ill be around for awhile and might keep the trend going.” Olajuwon is currently leading the league in blocked shots (4.4) and rebounding (13.8). If he finishes the season at his current pace, he will be the first player since Bill Walton in 1977 to lead the NBA in two categories. Accomplishing that feat for ’ ‘The Dream'' should not be a major problem; he is more concerned about his team making the play offs. He pointed out that winning more games is far better than individual glory. "M aking the play-offs is very impor tant to m e," he said. “ I'm just doing eve- PORTLA ERYER (USPS 959-680) OREGON’S OLDEST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PUBLICATION Established in 1970 Alfred L. Henderson Publisher Joyce Washington Operations Manager Leon Harris Editorial Manager Gary Ann Garnett Business Manager long as we have a player like Akeem, we have a shot and a chance to w in.” Chaney has the player that dreams are made of. ******************* and show signs o f making a serious run at the final conference play-offs spot in the West. The Rockets are tw o games behind SHORT SHAKES: Steve Jones, rexi- dent announcer says that the Rockets have no style. He believes that style is a state ment made by an organization or coach. When you think about the Lakers or Pis tons, what do you conclude? Both teams have style and tradition. S o d o the Blaxan. M ore on Steve Jones and style, as w ell aa his play-off predictions in weeks to come. Steve knows basketball. Hey Roman (JoneaX what's been happening? I miss your press table insight and old basketball war stories I . . . Chris Shelton, I hear you made a killing o ff Ball State in the NCAA Tournament! Chris is with the Multnomah County Sher iffs ' O ffice. He is a former s t a n d o u t ^ T t - ball player at Ball State and a former A ssis tant Coach undeT Larry Steele at the Uni versity o f Portland. What do Georgetown, i. Oklahoma, Missouri (H ello Byron “ W e have to get there fin t," said Don Chancy. Head Coach o f the Rockets. "A s and others have in common with os? W aare all watching the tournament on television. Akecm Olajuwon D m Chaoey, Head Coach rything I can to help the team. I want to win in the worst w ay.” regardless of whether it's offend or de fense. He is a player." Patrick E-wing o f (he N ew YtwkKnicks is impressed by Olajuwon skills and talent. "H e's quick and agile. He can run and jump. For quickness and size in centers, there are only th ree-m yself, Akeem, and David Robinson." Ax ever modest Otajuwon aays that RoMnaon said Ewing deserve all the credit and attention because their teams are w in ning. The Rockets are not. However, they sport a 7 -2 record in the month o f March Before the season, many fell that Olajuwon would not be able to contribute much because o f a mysterious circulation problem in his right lag. He missed the entire training and all o f the pre-! games, but he gained enough strength I tually to open the regular season for the Rockets. The leg doesn’t bother him any more, but he is sure bothering other teams with his all around play at both ends o f the court. “ He is a difficult player to guard " said Buck Williama.atar power forward for the Portland Trail blaxan. "Y on > c a Ik-, bump, push, and challenge him for position every time because he goes to the ball well. .. î- - • I» i ♦ r- PORTLAND OBSERVER is published weekly by Exie Publishing Company, Inc. 4747 N.E. M.L.K., Jr. Blvd. Portland, Oregon 97211 P.O. Box 3137 Portland, Oregon 97208 (503) 288-0033 (Office) * FAX #: (503) 288-0015 Deadlines fo r all submilled materials: Articles: Monday, 5 P.M. - Ads: Tuesday, 5 P.M. PMTMASTtt; h M Adrirm ( haa g a Put Hand Qhscncr. p.t > . uux j i j-_ pur tlM ,,d Th e P O B T IA N P O B S E R V E R wekam es freelance submtotoaa. Manuscripts and pho- U g ia p t o to mrid t o clearly labeled end »111 be returned If accompanied by a self. en***®P*- AB " c a t r d designed display ads become the sole property of this newspaper sad can not be used in other publications or personal usage, without the w rittoa cuoaaat o f the geacral manager, unices the client has purchased the comaosltl.m • T s u e h U , 1999 P O B T L A N D O B S E R V E R . 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