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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 1990)
I YOUTH LEISURE nside Understanding and accepting death Spike Lee's fourth movie is out, and it's hot In step with former boxer Paul Brown More on the Stay Clean Inc. controversy, as told by a former member M rs . F ra n c e s S c h o e n -N e w s p a p e r U n i v e r s i t y o -f O r e g o n L i b r a r y E u g e n e , O re g o n 97403 Page 2 Page 4 Page 5 R oom Page 7 HOUR PORTLfl? Volume XX, Number 30 ERVER 25<P August 8,1990 'The Eyes and Ears o f The Community" n i Ü S ! 1 \ ! Ê s s HBB ) bkb O Travel Roberts T R A V E L A G E N C Y BY ULLYSSES TUCKER, JR._______ Architecture Biology Painting Sculpture Music Chemistry Children Wild Animals History Geography Geology The solar system Birds Mining Industry Electronics Emperors Aeronautics Indians Books Anthropology Energy Agriculture Wilderness The environment Magic Behavior Dance Theater Furniture Biography Physics Railroads Machinery Fashion Travel Archaeology Psychology Medicine Nostalgia Sport Jewels Love Personalities Gold Health Entertainment Natural Wonders Religion War Flowers Crafts Antiques Space Ships Oceanography General Electric Co. Engineering Apprentices: How many o f the Portland school district's African American graduates will qualify for the science and engineering programs at Oregon Universities? It's got to happen - 95% of their parents cannot afford to send them out of state! Is it to be Cultural Literacy or European Literacy? to the culture and technology of the world. It is not just a matter of the “ omissions and thefts” cited in Bill Cosby’s video that ob y recent, somewhat cursory com ment on the bestseller, “ Cultural tains here - it is the fundamental truth of Marshall McLuhan’s observation, “ The Literacy” by Prof. E.D. Hirsch - “ middle class polemics, intellectual masturbation” Medium is the M essage.” And therein lies the danger. An ex - was meant to * ‘cut ‘em off at the pass.” O f course we agree with his warning, “ Chil amination of Mr. Hirsch’s projections makes dren in the United States are being deprived it quite clear that the schema he projects is of the basic knowledge that would enable as much at “ cultural SUPREMACY” as it them to function in contemporary society.” is about “ cultural literacy.” The overall But I said that on June 27, didn’t I? structure fits very well with an embodiment “ The teacher tests are biased alright - bi of that racist polemic of an upstate New ased against an ignorance of the basic skills York newspaper editor, “ Manifest Des and techniques (math and language) neces tiny” (of the white races) - much in the sary to decode the data base of knowledge sense of the last part o f the title of Charles which supports our contemporary culture.” Darwin’s epic, “ ...and The Preservation O f What could be clearer? What is not very The Favored Races of Mankind. ’ ’ The cita clear at all, or very likely, is that the school tions, demonstrations and bibliographies district’s curriculum people - given the racist furnished by the good professor would not mindset they have demonstrated over the differ that much in impact from the exclu past two decades -- will pursue a “ cultural sionary preferences and guidelines of the enrichment” that employs and integrates the IMMIGRATION LAWS which structured documented motivational and role model this republic. materials furnished by the authors of the What we need is a school district and BASELINE ESSAYS (or by the Local Con a school board that is in step with the en sultants). lightened and perceptive educators of this Hence, the intent to “ cut ‘em off at nation who realize that as we approach year the pass” - before the traditionalists pretend 2000, a significantly large and steadily that there can be no ‘ ‘cultural literacy” other growing proportion of our population is of than (or exclusively) within the context of so-called “ minorities” - groups who are Professor Hirsch’s definitions and reading well aware of what they have contributed to lists. Nothing could be farther from the the world civilization (in toto, the greater truth, and certainly in this series of front role). It is incomprehensible that a reasona page articles I have identified scores of basic bly enlightened educational establishment African and African American contributions BY PROFESSOR MCKINLEY BURT M could not perceive that minority achieve ments in science, mathematics, literature and music work just as well as lesson ele ments and paradigms as the Greek modes. The author of “ Cultural Literacy” asks the following: Test your cultural literacy. Can you put the following in context? absolute zero Alamo Billy the Kid carpetbagger El Greco Faust (title) gamma rays penis envy sea legs Valhalla Zeitgeist Homestead Act Iago Icarus jazz lame duck manna from heaven nom de plume rococo tabula rasa Waterloo. Battle of But we ask why - in addition to the innumerable scientists and mathematicians o f color cited earlier - cannot the contribu tions of the great Black classicists of litera ture and poetry be utilized, from Pindar whose works were required curriculum in the school Shakespeare attended, to Pushkin and to the magnificent writings of the Dumas family that encompassed novels and plays which also became operas by the great composers of the world? Why? Why? Continued next week. Portland to Host Two- State Youth Tournament August 8th, 9th, and 10th marks the 10th annual YOUTH GOLF TOUR NAMENT sponsored by FIR STATE Golf Club of Seattle, WA, and LEI SURE HOUR GOLF CLUB of Portland, OR. Over 200 youth, ages 9-14, from the two states are expected to participate in the three day event which will be held at Glendover Gold Course in Portland. YOUTH LEISURE HOUR GOLF CLUB FORE I ■ On Wednesday, the 10th Annual Youth Golf Championship teed-off at Glendover Golf Course. The Championship games are part of an effort by the black community to involve youth in positive activités in lieu of gangs and drugs. A Golf Clinic is scheduled, and will be conducted by some of Port land’s and Seattle’s top flight golfers. Also scheduled is a dinner at Bethel A.M.E. Church, a down home picnic and soulful entertainment. Ruthie’s Fine Foods will provide the BBQ sauce for the dinner. The event will be con cluded on August 10th, with an awards luncheon at the Execulodge in Port land. LEISURE HOUR and FIR STATE GOLF CLUBS are affiliated with the WESTERN STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION, INC. which was conceived by the late Vernon Gaskins of Portland. hen Robert Butler, Owner/ Travel Roberts Travel Agency, decided reestablish an agency fifteen years ago, there was no doubt about what he wanted to do as a business. He considered, briefly , opening a Phone Center Store, but the travel industry is where his heart was. People will always travel, he thought to himself, and there was not a black owned agency at the time in the Pacific Northwest. He was the first. Butler is proud of that fact Owning a travel agency might sound appealing to many readers because of the many travel opportunities. How ever, Butler has had only one vacation in fifteen years, and Saturdays are a regular workday. Travel Roberts is located at 3415 Northeast Broadway in Portland. (503) 287-1745. P ortland Observer-W hy a travel agency? Butler- ’’When I was with Job Corps, I had worked with an airline and a travel agency in Utah. I had also worked with the Portland Metropolitan Steering Committee before deciding to get into the private sector. At the time, I felt like I had paid my dues in the social area and wanted my own busi ness. We jumped into it with no experi ence. I wouldn’t advise anyone to do that at all. I had a little experience but not enough.” P ortland Observer-How difficult was it when you first started? Butler- ” It was pretty difficult. With a travel agency being new re the area, we first targeted the minority popu lation, it was even more difficult. Ninety- nine percent of the services are free with a travel agency and people are unaware of that fact. People are not used to going to a travel agent They go straight to the airport. I guess you could say that we had to change some old habits. You also have to establish credi bility. We still have people asking us if we are fronting for somebody after 15 years. Give me a break (laughing). If I was, I would have paid them off by now. Portland O bserver-D o you think that blacks support other black busi nesses enough? Butler- ” No, not really. A lot of small businesses are different in terms of the way they’re established. For ex ample, our rates are the same as the airlines. Small retail businesses might a nickel higher because they can’tbuy on the same level as a Fred Meyers and most people see those prices and shy away. Then, there is the crab in a barrel syndrome where some blacks don’t want to see other blacks succeed. Generally, we must don’t support our small busi nesses like other ethic groups.” P ortland Observer-Blacks are ba sically consumers. If blacks had their own county, based on spending habits, we would have the fifth largest GNP (Gross National Product) in the world. Should blacks realize this clout and start focusing on development in our own communities? Butler- ’’Definitely! That’s what it is all about. How do people sit on commissions? How do people sit on boards? These are people who have time to leave their businesses and do that . If you are a small business and always scrambling, you don’t have time to do things like this. We need to be involved on these boards so that you can find out the ten year program for the community. All of a sudden, things will sneak up on you. The convention center creepcd up on us and wc had no repre sentation, basically. That generally comes out of the private sector and we need to ROBERT BUTLER be more in tune.” Portland Observer-How do you find the time to stay in tune to the private sector and your own business? B utler- ” I’ve learned to manage my time better. Becoming President of the Albina rotary Club has put a heavy burden on me and my wife (Mary). She works here at the business and is respon sible for much of the marketing, promo tions, and accounting. W e’ve learned to get up a little earlier to do what we have to do.” Portland Observer-What’s your vi sion for Albina? B utler-” I see it growing. I really do. I can see more small businesses opening up on MLK Blvd. and I think they are going to make it. Oregon is built on small businesses, not large businesses. I think that core area is going to develop again. There will be expansion by some black businessmen and a mall developed by black investors. If the right shops are in there, people will support them.” P ortland Observer-W hat are some of the benefits of owning a travel agency? B utler- ’’There’s a certain amount of travel involved. I could take advan tage of a lot more than I do, but I still have to take care of business here. Time and money suggest that I stay home to do what is necessary for me to be success ful. The travel I do is generally business related. I’m usually taking time off to go to places I plan to sell and I want to keep up with the ones that I’m already selling. I wouldn’t want to send you to a trashed hotel or send you to a bad place.” P ortland Observer-W hat are some of the services you offer at your agency? B utler- ” We do hotel reservations, car rentals, city information, and a host of other services. We have all of this information in our computers. Airlines sell you whatever they can. We sell you what is better for your schedule. Airlines will not switch you over to another car rier. Travel agencies do not push one certain airline. We give the best services we can as a client.” P ortland Observer-W hat advice would you offer someone wanting to own a travel agency? B utler- ’’Regardless of the type of business you get involved with, know as much as your managers and workers. You must know your operation. If you don’t know your operation, you’re going to get ripped off and things will not go well. Know your business and have enough capital to get by in the beginning. Capi tal allows you to hire the right personnel and getting along with people also helps. P ortland O bserver-W hat do you see for your agency in the future? B utler- ” 1 would like to expand a little more. When you get too big, you start having problems. Problems within when you’re not ready for the competition.My friends from mega agen cies tell me that I should compete more for the government contracts. I can't compete for the government contracts. If you are too small, you’re going to have SEE TRAVEL ON PAGE 2