PO R TL
VOLUME XX NUMBER 13
ERVER
"The Eyes and Ears of the Community"
The New Immigration, Part III
Is There 'Still' Room At The Inn ?
by Professor McKinely Burt
Please accept our apology. I'm sure you
noticed last week that several key para
graphs in this Immigration Series were
inadvertently omitted. We will pick up here
with the paragraph immediately preceding
the omissions, then continue on with the
'three paragraphs' that were omitted. The
remaining material continues the series.
Thank you.
What we need here most immediately
is an easily visualized model, one that will
clearly reveal the main economic problems
facing African-A m ericans-like those so
succinctly examined by John E. Jacob,
National Director o f the Urban League in
last w eek's article. In taking issue with the
statement that the success of immigrants
demonstrated that Blacks needed no gov
ernment help, he detailed the special and
obvious disabilities of our "hom e grown
poor . . . that make such comparisons
odious."
We have just such a model available in
the concept of a giant American Hotel of
Employment, where there are unequal lev
els or floors of job opportunities. As with
any pyramid, there is much less room(s) at
the top (where the big boys and girls oper
ate). And obtaining a survival room at the
lowest level has become an increasingly
traumatic experience—even here there is a
growing need for an ethnic reservation.
However, management in its usual vein of
eqalitarian nonsense has proclaimed all floors
to be available on a first-come basis to all
guests who are members of the body politic
( " i f qualified"), and that any guest with
The Statue of Liberty
the where withal of education or skills may
later move at will to any higher floor of op-
p o rtunity-if he can locate a vacancy. Does
all this sound familiar?
Now, just where do African-Ameri
cans stand in relation to this hotel of equal
opportunity? Keep in mind that the nation's
(w orld’s) population is growing at a very
rapid rate. Pressures at home and abroad
have caused the inn's management a great
deal of consternation and confusion. Early
this month the U.S. Census Bureau re
ported that from 1980 to 1988 the number
of Blacks grew by 12.7 percent to reach a
Streetwise: A Look At
Ullysses Tucker, Jr.
total of 30.3 million. At the same time the
Hispanic population grew by 34 percent,
with half the increase stemming from im
migration and the other half from high birth
rates.
Concurrently, the nation’s Asian popu
lation grew by 70 percent, with about two-
thirds of the increase due to immigration.
Given this increased pressure, primarily
upon the very lowest rooms of the pyramid,
and add to it the Bush administration's ap
proval last month of a plan to raise visa
quotas for immigrants--and given the pres
sure of whites disemployed by aging indus
tries that cannot compete against imports-
how is it that there is not in place (or even
contemplated) any serious program of suf
ficient economic scope and depth to arrest
the further destruction of African-Ameri
can Youth? We may be speaking of
genocide!
We've used the buzz word 'quotas',
haven't we? The current hysterical and hypo
critical arguments against quotas seem so
patently weak one could imagine that even
a neophyte lawyer might marshall suffi
cient evidence of current usuage, prece
dent, and acceptance [of quotas] to more
than overcome those of the majority popu
lation who shrilly argue that they are unfair,
immoral and unjust (including the Supreme
Court and other jurisdictions that have
dramatically narrowed antidiscrimination
statues). And here, perhaps, has surfaced an
insight into a possible countervailing posi-
tion-that if minority quotas are unfair than
let us most immediately strike down 'all of
the current white male quotas that are in
trinsic to the American way of life', and
woven into every fabric of the country's
culture and ethos. Whatever happened to
the concept of 'equity' in Anglo -Saxon
jurisprudence? (C ontinued on Page 4)
Urban League
to Host
Western Region
O p e r a tio n : E A G L E
Ullysses Tucker, Jr. is not a complexed
individual. He is streetwise, graduate school
educated, highly motivated, committed to
young people, and he hates people who
make excuses for their shortcomings.
During this interview at his KATU-TV
office, where he produces * ‘Sunday North
w est," a weekly television program hosted
by Rick Meyers, Tucker’s telephone rang
loud and consistently. Most of the calls
were from school/college administrators or
community based organizations requesting
his presence at Career Day workshops or as
a motivational speaker. "Som ebody has to
help our young people," he said.
Contrary to some people's opinion.
Tucker is very accessible, sensitive to the
feelings of others, and in tune to the Black
community. He cares about North/North-
east Portland, it’s problems, and future
direction. Tucker not only cares about the
Black community, he cares about the city of
Portland. Black and White, the man cares
about people.
As of late. Tucker has provoked a great
deal of dialogue with his freelance writing
for the Portland Observer newspaper. In
addition to his weekly NBA sports column.
4
The Locker Room, Tucker has been writing
about male-female relations and other
controversial topics such as interracial dating
and dating games people play. He main
tains that most of his writing is based on
personal experiences or those of his friends.
Tucker believes that it is wrong to hold a
person "h o stag e " for their personal expe
riences or convictions.
"A lbert Einstein once said that great
spirits have always encountered violent
opposition from mediocre minds,” he said.
“ It is an very accurate quote. There is no
way that I am going to please all of the
people all of the time. It is impossible, but
there is nothing wrong with trying. Some
writers never make the effort. I am real. I
write from the heart. Readers usually hate
me until they meet me and learn that I am a
decent human being, unlike the writer they
think they know. Readers are so reaction
ary. The ultimate compliment to a writer is
having people debate or discuss, mostly
debate, my work. I have a love-hate rela
tionship with non-sports writing. I love the
art of written expression, but 1 hate how
some people interpret what I say."
(Continued to Page 4)
Progress Downs Golf Courses. They will be
assigned tasks by both the Pro Shop Man
ager and the Grounds Superintendent and
given instruction in business operations
and golf course maintenance. Light duties
may include assisting customers, starters
and marshalls, working the cash register,
assisting in irrigation installation and re
pair, landscape upkeep and using minimal
power equipment such as power rakes and
week wackers.
Completion of twoone-yearprograms,
along with good academics, will help to
qualify the student for a scholarship through
the Evans Foundation. The foundation of
fers full college tuition and housing renew
able for four years at the major universities
in Oregon and Washington.
"W e are taking advantage of the tal
ents and fresh ideas these young people
bring to the operation of the G olf Divi
sion," said Charles Jordan, Director of the
Bureau of Parks and Recreation. “ I’m hoping
they’ll come away with valuable job skills
and a greater recognition of their abilities
and their future.”
Oregon Drug/Alcohol-Exposed
Infant Toll Skyrockets;
Task Force Findings Released
Governor Neil Goldschmidt today
sounded the alarm about alcohol and drug
abuse among pregnant women and mothers
with young children by
releasing a task force
study of the problem.
He also announced that
he has signed an Execu
tive Order forming a
second task force, to be
headed by former Su
preme Court Justice
Betty Roberts, and an
nounced the member
ship of that group.
According to the
task force findings re
leased today, 532 Ore
gon infants were re
ported bom prenatally
exposed to alcohol and drugs during 1989,
with the actual number being much higher.
The infants required over $4 million worth
of services in their first year, at an average
Comments from Commissioner Mike
Lindberg Regarding Martin Luther
King Blvd. Supreme Court Decision
the ballot box, I think the Supreme Court
did the City of Portland a valuable service
in drawing a line between legislative and
administrative charges.
Assembly
The Western Regional Assem
bly of the National Urban League
(NUL) will convene March 29-31,
1990 at the Execulodge/Airport in
Its Guild, the assembly meets yearly
at one of the N U L's eleven affili
ates in the w est Delegates are ex
pected from Oregon, Washington,
California, Arizona and Colorado.
Local participants include: the
Honorable Margaret Carter, State
Representative, the Honorable Jim
Hill, State Senator, Gladys McCoy,
County Executive, Dr. Ernest
Hartzog, Assistant Superintendent,
Portland Public Schools, Donald
S. McClave, President and CEO,
Portland Public Schools, Donald
S. McClave, President and CEO,
Portland Chamber of Commerce,
David A. Paradine, President, United
Way of the Columbia-Willamette,
Victor Merced, Executive Direc
tor, Oregon Council for Hispanic
Advancement, Dr. Boone Suman-
tri. Vice President of Urban Serv
ices, Mercy Corps International,
and John A. Sims, Director, Busi
ness and Industries, Portland
Community College.
Many of the NUL staff head
quartered in New York will be on
hand. The NUL President and CEO,
John E. Jacob, will speak at the
Assembly’s closing luncheon on
Saturday, march 31. For more in
formation contact Pauline Reed or
Lana Danner at the Urban League
of Portland, 280-2600.
P o r tla n d P a r k B u re a u L a u n c h e s
Operation: EAGLE (Early Adventures
in Golf for a Lifetime of Enjoyment), a new
youth apprenticeship program through the
Portland Park Bureau, kicked-off today at
an introductory luncheon held at the
Multnomah Athletic Club.
16 high school students in Portland
Public Schools have been selected to par
ticipate in this program. Operation: EAGLE
provides part-time employment, eight hours
a week at minimum wage, at the C ity’s four
golf courses. Through the program, stu
dents receive career training in athletics,
agronomy, business, education, horticul
ture, recreation and golf operations and
school credits for their work. In addition,
students will receive golf instruction through
the golf pros at each of the courses.
Criteria for selection of these students
included the need for financial assistance, a
grade point average of 2.0 or better, a desire
for employment, good school attendance
and recommendations from a counselor
and athletic director. Portland Public Schools
made the final selection of students.
Four students each will be assigned to
Eastmoreland, Rose City, Heron Lakes and
MARCH 28,1990
cost for services of $8,000 per baby. In
1984 there were 65 reports of infants bom
drug or alcohol affected in Oregon.
" In Oregon s pio
neer days, when there
was an emergency, a
bell was rung out, and
people from miles
around would come
running to help. Today,
we are sounding an
alarm across our state,
and wc need Oregoni
ans to help prevent a
cruel an tragic fate for
too many of Oregon’s
children," said Gover
nor Neil Goldschmidt
The task force re
port recommends that
treatment and support services for pregnant
women and women with young children be
expanded, and be given the highest priority
for receiving services and support, in
Oregon.
Commissioner
Mike Lindberg
I am relieved that this matter can fi
nally be put to rest. Without diminishing
my fundamental belief in the importance of
There was disturbing potential for set
ting a precedent which would put any and
everything considered by council on the
ballot for a vote by the entire city. It could
have led to a trivialization of the referen
dum process and significant expense to the
city.
Frankly, I think the decision may have
helped portland avoid a bitter and nation
ally embarrassing dispute. Damaging sto
ries have already appeared on national news
and in national magazines. We just came
through a difficult decade, and I do want to
see that progress soured.
As far as I can see, the greatest good
would be served by moving on to more
important issues like the revitalization of
our neighborhoods, community policing,
meeting the recreational needs of our youth
and the preservation of the environment
which we have to come to treasure. Let us
be inspired to be healers and builders.
United African-Americans:
Doing The Right Thing
by Tony Washington
“ We want to prevent youth from join
ing gangs and pull others already involved
out by educating them about the senseless
ness of gang banging. We propose to do this
by striving to help spread unity among Af
rican-Americans.”
These words were echoed by Byron
Stiles, President and spokesperson for United
African Americans, a newly formed group
of college students from Portland State, Mt.
Hood and Portland Community Colleges.
The group got together in September,
1989, after tiring of the senseless gang
violence among African-American youth
in N/NE Portland.
They hold fundraisers and perform odd
jobs to generate revenue to offset expendi
tures. They contact businesses and try to
negotiate employment opportunities for
troubled youth. And so far the response
from employers has been pretty good, Stiles
claims.
“ The methods we hope to incorporate
into this project involves community inter
action. We will be speaking at Jr. and
Senior High schools throughout the area
educating students about our (African-
American) history, our achievements, and
the hazzards and rewards of different life
styles. We will be going out into the com
munity to make direct contact with gang
members, encouraging them to continue
their education and helping them to de
velop alternatives to "gang hanging.” We
must show them positive role models if
they are to have hope for tomorrow,” he
continues.
Stiles proudly points out the fact that
United African-Americans have met with
some success through job placements of
former gang members and boasts of two
members of the group who were recruited
from the gangs and are now working to
bring in others. But he emphasize the im
portance of employment once they have
been diverted from gang activities.
The group now claims a membership
of forty (male and female) and hope to
network with other program and organiza
tion for referral to service agencies.
When asked how long the effort would
continue, Stiles replied, "Forever.”
The community salutes this much needed
addition to anti-gang activity and wishes all
the best for continued support.
OAME, Banks Announce
Loan Fund
Through the Oregon Association of
Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME), five
Oregon banks jointly announced their
combined investment of nearly $3 million
in a capital loan fund designed to enhance
the success of minority businesses in O re
gon at a Friday, March 23, press confer
ence. Participating banks include Security
Pacific Bank, U.S. Bank, Key Bank, Bank
of California, and West One Bank.
The OAME Minority Capital Loan Fund
program, aided by a grant from the North
west Area Foundation, is the first of its kind
in state for minority entrepreneurs directed
through the auspices of a non-profit organi
zation.
" In examining the success factors of
minority businesses, the most prominent
need that surfaces is that of start-up and
short-term working capital. Now, with this
initial investment from five leading O re
gon banks and with the assistance from the
Northwest Area Foundation, OAME is well
on its way to fulfilling a major need of
minority entrepreneurs,’ ' said Sam Brooks,
OAME’s founder and Executive Director.
Barbara Henry, Senior Project Officer
from Northwest Area Foundation will
announce a $125,000 grant for the admini
stration of the Minority Capital Loan Fund
and $125,000 in seed capital as incentive
for others to participate in the Minority
Capital Loan Fund.
Initial Loan commitments from the
Oregon Banking Community include Secu
rity Pacific Bank $1,000,000; U.S. Bank
$1,000,000, Key Bank $500,000, Bank of
California $250,000, and West One Bank
$75,000.
Loan Commitments from financial
institutions will be balanced against par
ticipation and contributions from founda
tions and major businesses on a three to one
ratio. Businesses to be assisted by this Loan
Fund must have a business plan that shows
its ability to accomplish its business goals
and need for capital.
OAM E's Minority Entrepreneurship
Program (MEP) Counselors will provide
the technical assistance and support for
successful loan applicants. This Loan Fund
is the result o f one and one half years of
intensive work by the Oregon Association
of Minority Entrepreneurs, OAME, its
Advisory Board, Northwest Area Founda
tion, and the Oregon Banking Community.
OAME is a non-profit organization
with a primary aim to promote entrepre
neurship and economic development for
ethnic minorities throughout Oregon. The
organization operates across ethnic lines
and sets out to bring ethnic minorities and
non-minority businesses into productive
networks.
C O M I N G S O O N !!!
On \ p r il 11 tli, 1990, I lie Port hind Observer
newspaper w ill publish a special section fe a tu r
ing ha ir care products and hair st\ les. W atch fo r
this fascinating issue.