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
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HOUR
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Volume XX, Number 30
ERVER
25<P
August 8,1990
'The Eyes and Ears o f The Community"
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Travel Roberts
T
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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