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page 2—The Portland Observer- October It), 1990
TO CLARA PEOPLES
More African
American
Reading;
More Self-Es­
teem
First, let me cite a very excel­
lent source o f im portant, but reasonable
books, inadvertently om itted from last
w eek’s list. Request a catalog from the
“ U niversity o f Chicago Press” ; 1130
S. L angley, Chicago 60628.
My book, “ Black Inventors of
America” , can be purchased at the Black
Education Center School here at 4949
N.E. 17th (w eekdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
S 14.95). Two additional sources for
good reading are the “ Looking Glass
B ookstor” , 318 S.W. Taylor and any of
the B . Dalton outlets. The items appear­
ing on a list I published two years ago
proved so popular I am reprinting it
here.
L O O K IN G G LA SS: Thor
Heyerdal. Kon Tiki (documents that
African voyages in reed and papyrus
boats or rafts enabled them to migrate
all over the world in ancient times);
Peter Tompkins, Secrets of the Great
Pyram id. Harper pubs. (The best book
on the Great Pyramid, its history and
mathematics); Frank Snowden, Blacks
tn Antiquity. Bclnap/Hanard Press (Black
history prof, at Howard U. documents
the Black presence in Greece and Rome);
Bernal, Bkttk Athena. Rutgers U. Press
(Establishes African Roots o f ancient
classical civilization); Van Sertima,
They Came Before Colum bus. Random
House (Early Black cultures in the Ameri­
cas).
L O O K IN G G LA SS: Lewis,
Coal .Iron and Slaves. Greenwood Pubs.
(Documents the use of skilled slaves in
the Colonial Iron Industry); Barbara
Sewell, Egypt Under the Pharaohs,
Putnam-Sons; Zaslavsky, Africa Counts.
Lawrence Hill & Co. (Excellent survey
o f num ber sytems, math and games
developed by Africans). The following
are ordered out o f their “ D over’’ cata-
l2g: No. 22632-8, Erman, Life in A n­
cient Egypt. S8.95: No. 235017, Budge,
Dwellers On the Nile. $6.95; No. 222548-
8, W hite, Ancient Egypt. S4.95; No.
2 3 5 0 0 -9 , C a rte r, D iscovery o f
Tutankham en. $6.95.
Be sure to write for a catalog
from Barnes and Noble Bookstore. 126
Fifth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10011.
With Love From Us All
This is a very econom ical source for
valuable books. Some you may wish to
order immediately are No. 01482538,
Ancient Centers of Egyptian C iviliza­
tion. $4.98: No. 1336445. The Leyden
P ap y ru s (Ancient African Medicine),
$4.50; No. 01430552. Queen of Sheha
$5.98; No. 01336437, Ancient Egypt;
Its Culture: $4.95; No. 1557545, Raineses
II $6.95; No. 1523877, Africa: Her
History. $ 1.00. Be usre to include $3.95
for shipping and insurance.
Now, if you really want to treat
yo u rself-o r inspire a student in the fam ­
ily -o rd e r one or all of this three-volume
set from the same company above:
Ancient Egyptian Literature. $9.95 each.
Vol. I, No 1238625, Vol. II, No. 1238633,
Vol. Ill 1238641. W hat a surprise for
Dear Ms. Peoples:
those o f you who thought that all that
Thank you! Thank you from the
beautiful prose and poetry written by
very bottom of our hearts! For more than
European authors throughout the centu­
35 years you have fed, clothed, and housed
ries was orig in al-in either style or con­
more o f us than m ost o f the recognized
tent. Here you will find the ancient A f­
agencies combined. You did this w ith­
rican basis for our classic poems, nov­
out expected com pensation, and many
els, plays, and even for the parables and
declarations o f many Biblical Proph-
SlS-all written thousands o f years ear­
lier.
If you know a Black teenager
seeking a career in science or engineer­
ing, get these excellent m inority-ori­
ented career guides for free: W hat it’s
land. Knee injuries cut short a brilliant
like to be an Engineer, and Take it from
career.
U s - You can be an Engineer. Write:
In 674 games as a professional, Can-
Educational Communications, General
averaged 11.6 points per game and fin­
Electric Co., Fairfield, CT 06431.
ished one rebound short o f 5,000. He
averaged 10.5 points in 35 play-off games
and his career shooting percentage was a
respectable .510.
January 1991 will mark his sixth
year as president o f C a n Construction.
After his career in basketball ended, an
opportunity to enter the construction
Continued from Page 1
business presented itself to him. “ My
development through self-help.
family enjoyed this area and I saw a lot of
There has always been a tradition o f
growth potential. It seemed an easier
self-help and generous giving to deserv­
transition to stay here than going back to
ing causes by the black com m unities of
W ashington, D.C. and starting over,”
the nation. This support has come from
C a n said.
the African American churches, sorori­
Although the construction business
ties and fraternities; businesses, alumni
is extrem ely com petitive, he enjoys the
association and many other groups-even
challenge. One of his biggest challenges
school children. But in this age of high
is finding a capable workforce and keep­
powered, computer-based charitable
ing in through successive jobs due to the
drives, minorities have found themselves
construction boom in Portland. All the
hard put to compete with these widely
good people can find jobs and the com ­
publicized “ Charity M achines” .
petition for carpenters and electricians is
The Black United Fund offers the
fierce, even though he has seen some
black community a unique opportunity
slowing in the rate o f construction dur-
to make much-needed funds available to
CREED OF THE BLACK PRESS
The 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
Press strives to help every person in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as anyone
to held back.
P O R T L A N D ’OBSERVER
t
(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 Company, 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: Send Address Chsnges to: Portland Observer, 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 labled and will be returned if accompanied by a seif addressed
envelope All created design display ads become the sole property o, this newspaper and
can not be used in other publications or personal usage, without the written consent of the
general manager, unless the dient 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 OO per year in the Tri-Countyarea. $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
* a • *
a )
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e s a * » * - '*
We also know that many o f the resources
that your organization, com m unity care
provides com es from your own p o ck et
Many o f our sons and daughters
thank you for diverting them from the
gangs and drugs. They are also thankful
for the special gifts and parties on birth­
days and at Halloween.
We are amazed, (but not surprised)
that illness (sometimes serious) was never
a deterrent in your com m itm ent when
people needed help. We are aw are that
even your hospitalization did not stop
the endless task o f negotiating for re­
sources. Always to the disgruntlem ent of
your doctors and nurses.
Yes, Ms. Peoples, you are truly God
sent and amazing. You have added true
meaning to the word caring.
So from your new friends, we offer
hope...from your old friends, we say
thanks...and from all o f us, we say we
love you.
W ith Love....from Portland!
Carr Construction
United Fund
Campaign
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS WEEKEND! Allene S.
Roberts, second from right, Manager, Constituency Programs,
Philip Morris Companies Inc., welcomes guests to the Philip
Morris reception following the CBC Foundation’s Twentieth Annual
Legislative Weekend Awards Dinner at the Washington Hilton,
Washington, D.C. With Ms. Roberts are, from left, Hazel N.
Dukes, President of the NAACP, Bernard Foster, Publisher of
“ The Skanner” newspaper, Portland, Or., and Betty Adams,
President, The Jackie Robinson Foundation. Philip Morris spon­
sored the Foundation’s summer intern program again this year.
The program provides college undergraduate students with op­
portunities to work in a Congressional office. The CBC’s Weekend
theme was “ Memories of the Past-V isions of the Future’’. More
than 15,000 persons attended the popular, four-day event.
times without thanks.
You put the brightness into C hrist­
mas, and added caring to Thanksgiving,
with a sincerity that brought tears to the
eyes o f those in need.
W ith your cardre of volunteers, you
“ hustled” the food from the farms, do­
nations from the community, and deliv­
ered to the seniors , the sick, and the
shut-ins.
Your advocacy role on behalf of
many in need opened the doors for food
stamps, welfare, children assistance,
medical aid, housing and clothing.
W hile Tuesdays and Thursdays are
normally the days when you give out
your food baskets, we know that if we
show up on any day we will not leave
hungry.
W e know the role you have played
in helping many public officials to get
elected. We also know that many of
these officials have chosen to ignore you
when you sought help for the underclass.
deserving organizations in this com m u­
nity-through an organization with a
proven track record that knows and iden­
tifies with our specific areas o f need. Be
sure to sign up on your job. Your contri­
bution will be greatly appreciated.
LETTER TO
THE EDITOR
When you change your clock back
to standard time this month, you could
get more than an extra hour’s sleep. By
taking a few more minutes to change the
batteries in your fam ily’s smoke detec­
tor and flashlights, you can also rest
assured you and your loved ones are
protected against home fires.
As a caring member of the com m u­
nity, the Portland Bureau o f Fire, Rescue
& Emergency Services also urges you to
step beyond your home during the fall
time change weekend, October 27-28,
and check and change smoke detector
batteries fora friend, neighbor, family or
elderly or disabled person unable to do
so.
We launch this “ neighbors helping
neighbors: plea in an effort to reverse a
recent trend linking a significant number
of fire-related deaths to children and
elderly, disabled and low-income people.
Currently, as many as half of the
smoke detectors in U.S. homes are use­
less because of old or missing batteries.
Yet, a smoke detector with working
batteries can double the chances o f sur­
viving a fire.
That is why we stress an annual
battery change as the single most easy,
effective and accessible way to reduce
the number o f fire-related deaths and
injuries.
In doing so , we aim to snap a " n o
progress” trend in reducing fire deaths
and injuries that has plagued much of the
1980s.
We hope the decade of thc’90s brings
a new age in fire safety awarencss-an era
characterized by an annual smoke detec­
tor battery change and fewer fire-related
deaths and injuries.
We urge you to join in this effort by
committing to this important fire safety
practice. It’s a habit that could save your
life.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Mayer
Public Information Officer
Continued From Page 1
ing the last year.’’Things tighten up when
money tightens up,” he said, “ H ow ­
ever, it’s still going at a good pace.”
Another challenge is pacing the jobs
the company has won bids on. After one
project winds down, he needs to have
another ready to take its place and the
timing can be tricky. “ Sometimes it’s
feastor famine and you have to be able to
work quickly to find where there’s a new
construction project,” C arr added.
Carr Construction handles both com­
mercial and residential building and re­
modeling with 75-85% o f their current
work in commercial construction and
15-25% in residential. “ Right now the
bulk o f our contracts is on the com m er­
cial side but I ’m trying to get a handle on
1991. We might be doing more residen­
tial next year to pick up the slack,” he
said. Carr Construction has just com ­
pleted remodeling an 80,000 square-foot
retail building on 181st & Halsey and is
currently remodeling a church in North­
east Pordand, renovating a downtown
hotel and the downtown Safeway store,
and building parts of the new OHSU eye
clinic and the new State O ffice Building.
“ O ur com pany is successful because
w e’re good at problem solving,” he said.
“ Service is the key to any business.”
C a n is looking forward to the pre­
dicted growth in Northeast Portland and
hopes to be involved in future construc­
tion projects there. “ W e’re committed
to involving minority and women-owned
businesses on our jobs. We try to build
lasting relationships with our sub-con­
tractors and support emerging busi­
nesses,” he added.
Both Kenneth and his wife Adriana
are very active in com m unity projects
and work hard raising funds for organi­
zations such as OMSI and the United
Negro College Fund. “ W e’re also in­
volved with a lot of art and cultural
organizations because they are very
important for growth and stimulate the
minds o f young and o ld ,' ’ he stated, The
Carrs have 3 children, 2 girls and a boy.
Carr Construction is a full service
construction company specializing in new
construction and remodeling, both resi­
dential and commercial. The telephone
number 274-9518.
...And Justice For AH
by Angelique Sanders
Portlanders Expend Moral Energy in
"Dignity and Diversity" March
Okay. I can adm it I was begin­
ning to have my doubts about ever w rit­
ing an upbeat column: sure, there are
am ple positive things in my life, but are
readers truly going to want to hear about
the really great time I had the other night
making pancakes for my friend Avery or
how much I enjoy spending time with
my room m ate? It is easy to turn a
column into a forum for personal ram ­
blings, but if one wishes to keep readers
entertained (and, hopefully, learning),
form, and the police were out in full
force...indeed, even police helicopters
panned for a profile).
Looking in any direction, a
marcher could find hundreds o f chatty,
tense people with the expression in their
eyes o f hope, faith and being a part o f an
event-hopcfully, a revolution of so rts-
that would extend beyond an individ­
ual's som ew hat limited abilities at mak­
ing a change. "Diversity and Dignity"
fit better than the march promoters could
go" to "No Nike, no KKK, no fascist
U.S .A." People sported banners, such as
"Fight big brother, not each other,” a
reference to George Orwell's ”1984", a
bookaboutextrem e political brainw ash­
ing, and "Keeping the Dream A live”
which proudly carried a picture o f M ar­
tin Luther King. An Indian man called
the governm ent leaders "political pimps
leaving you flat on your back”.
A white-suprem acist flag in an
apartm ent window was pointed out my a
At the corner of Pine and 31st, in Southwest, a march coordinator stopped the mob to bring to mind
a sorrowful event that should remind us what hatred is doing to us all..."This is the corner where
Mulugeta Seraw was murdered," he said...and even children were still, as though understanding the
meaning behind the tragedy of yet another death due to hatred.
the methodology that works best is to
discuss situations the writer and readers
share, such as politics; however, I have
been less than thrilled with our political
status lately.
I have good news o f a political
scope, however, and if you were unable
to partake o f the event, I hope my recon­
struction o f events will help to bring you
there. My good news is that I have
strong faith as to the outcome of the '90s,
stemming from the "Dignity and Diver­
sity” march on Sunday, which, even if
you live in a cave, you've probably
heard about.
Sunday was the perfect day for
the march: you know how Sundays are,
they unfold with a peaceful feeling of
calm ness, even if you work on a Sunday.
A dditionally, this truly was the calm
before the storm, as Tom M etzger's arri­
val was slated for Monday, unleashing
at least several weeks o f inevitably tense
events.
So, anyhow, the crisp Sunday
air brought people scrambling to line up
in a march-like manner, towards each
other and away from the police (as even
though no riots broke out, the inner
instinct of most provides them with a
dclcnsivc reaction to an offensive plat-
ever have known: while the televised
news did not seem to present much o f a
culturally divserse feeling to the walk,
the crow d showed quite a different view,
all united with a similar goal for our
planet: breaking down barriers and
replacing hate and fear with love and
acceptance.
A t the com er of Pine and 31 st,
in Southwest, a march coordinator stopped
to mob to bring to mind a sorrowful
event that should remind us what hatred
is doing to us all..."This is the com er
where Mulugeta Seraw was murdered,"
he said to a bullhorn, with the helpless
sorrow one might tell a dying pet to hold
on. "Let us observe a moment of silence
in m em ory...” and even children were
still, as though understanding the m ean­
ing behind the tragedy o f yet another
death due to hatred.
This was the last quietude the
single-minded crowd shared: from this
point the enthrallment of blocking city
streets and hailing the ignorant or un­
caring took over. Chants took over,
from "The people united will never be
d efeated ", to "Gays, straights, blacks,
whites...Samc struggle, same fight"; from
"hey hey, ho ho, homophobia has got to
1 »
marcher, and soon yelling and hooting
was taken up in protest, as well as the
cry, "Neo-Nazis have got to go". O n­
lookers would w ave and smile to the
moral paraders, and often join in. People
passed out literature on various upcom­
ing unity-themed events, and usual so­
cial boundaries, such as don't talk to
strangers, were recklessly abandoned to
the loving instincts of participants. A
rally followed in the South Park Blocks
.which exhibited a great emotional yearn­
ing for change. Later that night, the City
nightclub (for gay youth) held a dance in
celebration o f diversity.
I thank everyone o f my fellow
Portlanders that was there to uphold the
cause o f love, and for those o f you who
missed it, I hope I’ve successfully con­
veyed the spirit o f the march to you.
Next time, I hope to see even more than
the astounding 2500 participants...
* * * • •
My item is sh o rt and sw eet: the up­
coming election is full o f substance-
bearing issues and I hope absolutely
every brother and sister will leap to the
polls and make their beliefs understood.
If you aren't registered, you've got only
six days lelt. I'll present further elec lion
coverage as November sixth draws nearer.