1 age 2 1 he Portland Observer -September 26, 1990 T I ffi_____. V E By Professor McKinley Burl It's In the Book, Believe Me! I d o n ’t know if I personally sham ed” William Raspberry, the black W ashington Post colum nist who several w eeks ago put dow n the celebration of \lric a n roots by many African Aemri- cans-but certainly a number of our readers lave made a good faith effort to do just that. A num ber have cither forwarded copies o f the response I gave last week to the W ashington Post, or have mailed their own expressions o f outrage. When I wrote, “ the same knowl­ edge [of Black contributions] has been proven to greatly enhance a positive perception o f African A m ericans by the dom inant racial group” , a current in­ stance im m ediately occurred to me. Re- eently, I have written o f having taken idvantage o f that nationw ide trend of a grow ing partnership between Education nd Business. Specifically, I made ear­ ner reference to a Beaverton Com puter Facility that was aiding me in assem- bling my Education Delivery System of Curriculum and Motivation, and my R e­ search in African and African American Technology and C u lture-until 1 could once again open com m unity-based of­ fices (soon after the first of the year). W hat 1 did not mention was that the founder o f this successful busi­ ness is one o f the “ k id s” who partici­ pated in my prizew inning Com puter/ Com m unications Demonstration held at the Dalles, Oregon Junior High School in 1967-tw enty three long and eventful years ago. This young white youth obviously was highly m otivated by the presentation, such that when I encoun­ tered him in later years at Portland State University, he reminded me of the “ mind boggling” revelation I had m a d e -th a t the “ Africans developed the Binary Mathematics used by today’s com put­ ers.” He remarked of great difficulty in gaining credibility when disseminating this information until reference was made to such accepted docum entation as the “ Rhind Papyrus” and sim ilar ancient documents. An interesting spinoff has pro­ ceeded from my answ er to W illiam Raspberry’s article, where I cited “ Gale’s Encyclopedia of Associations’ ’ as a source for lists o f thousands o f organizations— hundreds formed ju st for the purpose of researching and celebrating European roots. Many readers found much, much W hat: Portland Cham ber Business Forum W hen: O ctober 9, 1990, 78:30 to 8:45 a.m. W here: Red Lion Hotels & Inns/ Lloyd Center. 1000 N.E. Multnomah, Holladay and Broadway Rooms. W ho: Dr. Robert D. Barr, Dean, College o f Education . Oregon State University. Topic: “ The Future Isn ’t What it Used to B e !" Special F eature: Preseniation of the second annual Portland Chamber Teacher/ Program Recognition Awards. Cost: Series package tickets (7 meetings) $95 Portland Cham ber m em ­ bers, $112 non-members Single tickets, $15 Portland Cham ber members, $18 non-members. Corporate tables (10 seals) $140, half-table (5 scats) $70 R egistration: Deadline is October 4. Contact Special Events at 228-9411. M edia: All media representatives are are welcome. Photo opportunities available. more of use in this huge directory of American organizations found in the reference section of the main public library. It has been said that ‘‘Am eri­ cans are the most ’jo ining’ people in the w orld.” This book will convince you. First, there are broad catego­ ries with many subheadings and appro­ priate crossreferences. There are ge­ neric grouping from forestry and agri­ culture to fisheries and game farms or wildlife groups, manufacturers and dis­ tributors to retailers and mail order asso­ ciations, fraternal organizations to pro­ fessional groups o f physicians, psychia­ trists, lawyers and sociologists to educa­ tors, conventioneers and cham ber of commerce-and many ethnic groups other than European. The “ Trade A ssociation” list­ ings were the majore reason for citing this book to my business students at Portland State University. From the retail and wholesale groups to associa­ tion o f “ Grey Iron Foundries” or Fast OSU EDUCATION DEAN Food Franchisers, I pointed out that these FEATURED FORUM SPEAKER groups were a prim ary source o f price­ Dramatic changes in technology, less information on operations, sales and marketing techniques, equipment, sup­ science and manufacturing continue to pliers, accounting procedures, financ­ transform our lives. In many industries, ing and relevant statistics. Information these changes can happen overnight. that could not otherw ise be obtained ex­ Keeping up with the fast-paced and often cept by hands-on experience or by plow ­ startling developm ents has place new ing through scores o f textbooks, manu­ dem ands on business and industry. Featured speaker at the O ctober 9 als and brochures—if at all. Portland Cham ber Business Forum is Dr. Robert D. Barr, dean, College of Education, Oregon State University. The breakfast meeting is at the Red Lion H o te l/L lo y d C e n te r, 1000 N .E. Multnomah Street, from 7:30 to 8:45 L O A N E D E X E C U T IV E S H E L P U N IT E D W A Y W ith a goal o f raising $ 19.5 million, more than 70 people from the metro area are serving as loaned executives during United W ay o f the Colum bia-W illam ­ ette ’s 1990 campaign. After a week of training in late August, the follow ing m em bers o f the Black com m unity are working closely with com pany cam paign chairm en to coordi­ nate successful fund-raising drives: Harvey Lee G arnett, Tri-M et Tran­ sit D istrict A lfred W. Jones Jr., Internal Reve­ nue Service Local businesses loan these indi­ viduals to United W ay w hile continuing to pay their salaries and expenses, allow ­ ing the organization to send 87 cents o f each contributed dollar directly to its agencies. These volunteers work with em ployees from industry, government and education in Clackamas, Multnomah and W ashington counties in Oregon and Clark County in W ashington. “ Our fund-raising efforts require as­ sistance from thousands o f people in this com m unity. Key role players include a group o f about 70 people on loan to U nited Way from com m unity-m inded PORTLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE a.m. Dr. B an will examine the impact of the changes on our daily lives-our jobs, our businesses, our governments and our families. His topic, “ The Future Isn’t W hat it Used to B e!,” provides insight on coping with these extraordi­ nary changes. A special feature at the meeting is presentation of the Portland Chamber Teacher/Program Recognition Awards. Recipients from two-and four-year col­ leges are honored for their outstanding contribution to adult students and Port­ land business and industry. This year, the Portland Chamber education Com m ittee received 16 nom i­ nations. Four winners have been selected (two teachers and two program s) with one honorable mention. These programs are shining examples of what O regon’s colleges and universities have to offer students and the business community. Series packages are available for seven meetings. Avoid rcgistrauon hassle, receive a discount over individual ticket prices and a free pass to Business After Hours, a popuUr Chamber bi-monthly trade show. Series tickets are $95 for Portland Cham ber members and $112 for non-members. Individual tickets are $15 for Chamber members and $18 for non-members. For large groups, $140 corporate tables o f 10 scats guarantee your party will be seated together. Half tables o f five seats are also available for $70. Registration deadline is O ctober 4. To make your reservations or for more information, call Portland Chamber Special Events at 228-9411. Back (continued from front page) And deserving our immediate attention in this respect is the fact that a visit to any o f the institutions named will find agreally disproportionate number of the African American students en­ rolled in the “ soft courses” rather than the highly viable (em ployable) Field in science and technology. This observa­ tion, of course, brings us back to square one. Once again we are brought squarely up against the issue o f securing and maintaining local SCHOOLS O F EX­ CELLENCE. Even given the special programs like MESA and Saturday Academy, there is found in m ost a dis­ heartening num ber o f black stu d en ts- while Asian and other parent- and tradi­ tion-driven minorities beat down the doors to participate. I ’d like to believe once again I’ve made a good case for forming a progressive, com petent and committed parents’ organization which would be quite serious about intervening in a pre­ carious situation. It is quite obvious that no one is going to do many o f the needed tasks for u s -n o t school administration, not government, not heaven. So it is we ourselves who are going to have to mar­ shal resources, lease facilities, employ staff, utilize com puters for relevant in­ formation retrieval and delivery, and otherwise get the job done. I d o n ’t see ANY OTHER ALTERNATIVE! PORTLAND OBSERVER 'The Eyes and Ears ol the Community Office: (503)280-0033 Fax#: (503)288-0015 ‘A LL T ttL ÇOOV Ol&S A ‘L L LATKLThtJ ' You’ve just about given up! You’ve tried the dating scene: night clubs, bars, social lounges. All the prospects just were not what you were looking for in a permanent relationship. riease send me more information and a membership packet. I don’t want to let this unique opportunity pass me by. I have enclosed $2.00 for shipping and handling Name:-------------------------------------------------------------- Male___ Fesma, Address: Citv/State/Zip: ---------- I certify that I m 21 years of age or older, single, and African American Signature: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ African American Singles Network, P.O. Box 12514, Portland, OR 97212 (503)293-7979 em ployers,” said 1990C am paign Chair­ man Bruce W illision, chairman o f the board for First Interstate Bank o f O re­ gon. ‘‘These men and women form the core of a team that will enable us to achieve our goal.” Loaned executives will raise more than 60 percent o f the money United W ay distributes to nearly 200 agency programs in the four-county area. These agencies provide such services as child care, drug and alcohol treatment, m edi­ cal care, help for victims of family vio­ lence, and personal developm ent pro­ grams. CR EED OF THE BLACK PRESS I he Black Press believes that America can best lead the world away from social and national antagonisms when it accords to every person, regardless of race, color, or creed, full human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person, the Black P r e s strives to help every person In the firm belief that all are hurt as long as anyone Is held back. PORTL Correction L ast week, in the business profile o f Christopher Guinn Ill's Studio 14 LUCKY YOU. ERVER IT’S HUD SIGN UP TIME! (USPS 959-680) OREGON'S OLDEST AFRICAN AMERICAN PUBLICATION Established in 1970 Alfred L. Henderson Publisher Joyce Washington Operations Manager Gary Ann Garnett Business Manager Leon Harris Editorial Manager The PORTLAND OBSERVER is published weekly by Exie Publishing Com pany, 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 for all submitted materials: Articles: Monday, 5 p.m. -- Ads: Tuesday, 5 p.m. POSTMASTER: Sand Address Changes lo : Portland Obaarvar, P.O. Box 3137, Portland, OR 97208. Second-class postage paid at Portland, Oregon The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions Manuscripts and photo­ graphs should be clearly tabled and will be returned if accompanied by a self addressed envelope All created design display ads become the sole property of this newspaper and can not be used in other publications or personal usage, without the written consent of the general manager unless the client has purchased the composition of such ad 1990 PORTLAND OBSERVER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED Subscriptions $20 00 per year in the Tri-County area, $25 00 all other areas The Portland Observer-- Oregon’s Oldest African-American Publication - is a member of The National Newspaper Association - Founded in 1885, and The National Advertis­ ing Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc , New York, NY. LOOKING FOR THE BEST HOMEBUYING VALUE? Christopher Guinn III Salon, the Observer inadver­ tently listed the address as 1410 Northeast Broadway. The cor­ rect address and phone num- ber should be: 1405 Northeast Broadway^ Portland, OR 97212 _____ (503) 287-2557____ j We apologize for any in­ convenience this may have caused Christopher Guinn III, Studio 14 Hair Salon, or our readers. If you notice any errors in the Portland Observer, please do not hesitate to write us at 4747 N.E. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Portland, Oregon 97208 or fax it at 288-0015. W hen you see our sign up in your real estate agent's window, you'll know that this is a place that can m ake buying your next hom e both easy and fast. Your agent will tell you that H U D hom es are priced to be terrific values. And with FHA M ortgage Insurance, a buyer's down paym ent can be just 3% . So watch the Sunday O regonian for our weekly H U D hom e listings, and then look for our “ Buy a H U D hom e here” sign. For people w ho want a good deal on a gtxxl hom e, it's a beautiful sign of the tim es. HUD DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING ANO URBAN DEVELOPMENT ' t M , b » M U 0 Po.n«v) O n e . Equal Housing Opportunity