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* 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
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The New Immigration, Part li:
I Letters to
by Professor McKinley Burt
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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
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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
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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, -
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7 :
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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»
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♦
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