February 6 ,1 9 9 1 - The Portland O bserver-P age 13
National Public Radio Horizons Salutes Black History Month
across the American musical landscape.
Developments in African-Ameri­
can music paralleled social,political,
and economic developments in Ameri­
can society. During the 1800s, the spiri­
tuals slaves created expressed their anger
and frustration, as well as their faith in
G od, an com municated messages that
slavemasters were unable to interpret
Rollins says this music was rooted
in the ancient worship traditions brought
from African and "blended with the
Christian religions that European set­
tlers forced slaves to adopt.”
Spirituals like "O h Freedom ,”
Grosvenor. (Check local pubic radio
stations for broadcast times.)
Produced by Njemile Carol Rollins,
the program features songs created and
performed by African-Americans, from
the pre-Civil War era through 1990.
Kicking off the special is "S ongs
Tell the Story: 19th C entury,” featur­
ing an array of the spirituals, field * * hol­
lers,” shouts, and work songs that ac­
companied slavery and Reconstruction
through the end o f the 19th century,
since that time, the strains o f "S w ing
Low, Sweet Chariot” and “ Joshua Fit
de Battle o f Jericho” have been heard
In the early 19th century, African-
Americans used music to preserve their
history, passing stories down through
generations by song. In time, music
became a vehicle for social commen­
tary, reflecting the changes in society
as seen through the eyes of African-
American artists.
To honor Black History Month,
National Public Radio (NPR) will chron­
icle the African-American experience
with a special four-part series titled
"Songs Tell the Story.” The series airs
on N PR’s acclaimed documentary se­
ries HORIZONS, with host Vertamae
" D id n ’t My Lord D eliver Daniel,* ’ and
"Som etim e I Feel Like a M otherless
C hild” have been passed on for gen­
erations, and “ today speak to many
other forms o f economic and social in­
justice African-Americans have expe­
rienced since the onset o f slavery,”
Rollins says.
In the second documentary, “ Songs
Tell the Story: 1900-1940,” H O RI­
ZONS recalls widespread lynchings,
the evolution of the M arcus Garvey
movement, migration o f m any A fri­
can-Americans from the rural South to
northern cities, the Harlem Renaissance,
Black History Month Highlights Winter Season On OPB
W inter is a good time to stay home
and keep w arm , and this season Oregon
Public Broadcasting has a line-up of
programs to make those cozy evenings
even more appealing. These include
shows on the Black experience in
American, music ranging from mozart
to Beale Street, and the gamut o f sci­
ence from dinosarus to astronauts.
10PM) chronicles the career o f Charles
Hamilton Houston, the black attorney
who led the legal campaign to overturn
the Constitution’s sanction o f racial
segregation, helping to launch the civil
rights movement.
Local Color (M onday, February
1 8 ,10PM), is an encore presentation of
O PB ’s own exploration of the history
o f Portland’s black population. This
documentary tells the story o f how the
blackresidents of Portland, and to some
extent the rest o f Oregon, endured and
how blacks and whites together started
the state’s first civil rights m ovem ent
Black men: Uncertain Futures
(Tuesday, February 19, 10PM takes a
and 1965. Each program focuses on an
even or series o f events critical to the
understanding of the overall progress
o f the 1950s and 1960s, and contem po­
rary interviews with more than 100
participants on all sides o f the civil
rights struggle.
’ ‘The Colored M useum ” on G reat
Performances, (Saturday, February 9,
10PM) George C. W olfe’s satirical
comedy-drama, is an irreverent explo­
ration of black stereotypes. The play
parodies such sacred icons as “ A R ai­
sin in the Sun,” Ebony m agazine, and
afro haircuts.
The story o f a visionary. The Road
to Brown (W ednesday, February 13,
Black History Month
The highlight o f the season is pro­
gramming for Black History Month in
February. The six-part series Eyes on
the Prize (Sunday-Tuesday, February
3-5 and February 10 -1 2 ,10PM) details
the spirit, stories, and events of the civil
rights struggle in America between 1954
PCC Presents Black History Month Events
A month-long “ Festival o f A fri­
can Film s’ ’ features a Portland prem ier
o f the new film by A frica’s forem ost
film director, Ousmane Sem bene of
Senegal, on W ednesday, Feb. 6. Show ­
ings will be at noon and 7:30 p.m. in the
Terrell Hall auditorium on the Cascade
Campus.
Three other African films will be
presented on successive W ednesdays
at noon and 7:30p.m . during the month:
Feb. 13, “ Y eclen” (Brightness), di­
rected by Souleymane Cisse o f Mali;
Feb. 20, " L a Vic Est B elle,” directors
Ngangura Mwcze and Benoit Lamy,
Zaire; and Feb. 27, “ Faces of W omen,”
directed by Desire Ecare from the Ivory
Coast.
The Chargette’s, a m odem A fri­
can dance troupe from H um boldt E le­
mentary School in Portland, will per­
form at noon Friday, Feb. 8 in the
Cascade Hall auditorium on the C as­
cade Campus.
The public is invited to attend a
variety of “ Black History Month” events
at Portland Com m unity College during
February. All events are free of charge
and most events will be held at PC C ’s
Cascade Campus, 705 N. Killingsworth
S l
The them e this year is "W e Shall
Be O ne,” said PCC counselor Ken
Adair, chairman o f the college’s 1991
Black History Month committee.
“ The them e reflects a unification
of A frican-A m ericans across the coun­
try with Africans across the world, in
thought and in spirit,” Adair said. “ The
theme also reflects a unification of all
people,” he added.
Black History Month kicks off with
a M onday, Feb. 4 panel discussion,
“ Racism on College Cam puses.” The
discussion will be held at 1 p.m. in
Room 122 o f Terrell Hall at the C as­
cade Cam pus. Audience participation
is encouraged.
The choirs of three Portland
churches will present a Gospel concert
from 6 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, in the
Cascade Hall auditorium , Cascade
Campus.
Sonia Sanchez is PCC’s 1991 Black
History Month keynote speaker. She
will speak on Friday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.
in the Cascade Hall auditorium . N a­
tionally and internationally known to
millions as Sister Sonia Sanchez, the
author, poet and playwright was a pio­
neer o f Black studies and Black con­
sciousness. A reception for Ms. San­
chez will follow.
"B lack Business Expo '91,” fea­
turing product and service displays of
up to 70 business associations and
businesses owned by A frican-A m eri­
cans, is set from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 23, and noon to 5 p.m.,
Sunday, Feb. 24 in the Cascade C am ­
pus gymnasium.
tough look at a generation o f young
black men whose chances o f landing in
jail for outweigh their chances o f at­
tending college. The program illustrates
the problem s that are developing as a
consequence of this “ lost generation ” -
problems affecting minority com m uni­
ties and society as a whole.
The American Experience series
presents the Academy Award nominated
“ Adam Clayton Pow ell” (Thursday,
February 21, 10PM), chronicling the
rise and fall of the charismatic black
preacher from Harlem who, at he height
of his career, was one o f the most pow ­
erful and controversial politicians in
America.
and the Depression.
This docum entary featured music
created after the tum -of-the-century
through the New D eal” rags, jazz, ru­
ral blues, boogie-w oogie, and classic
gospel.
During the first half of the 20th
century, African-A m erican musicians
sang and played the blues in rural south­
ern towns, in New Orleans street pa­
rades, and elsewhere. For composer
and saxophonist Sidney Bechet, vocal­
ist A lberta Hunter, and others, the blues
were like musical prayers.
A Dicussion And
Reception Honoring
Historians
You are invited to attend a discus­
sion and reception honoring historians
o f Northwest African Am erican history
on Sunday, February 10, 1:30-5:00. It
will be at the Beaver Hall, O regon
Historical Center. Enter the building at
main elipse, S.W. Park Ave. and M adi­
son or through the Bookshop, S.W .
Madison and Broadway.
An evening o f poetry readings by
members o f the Northwest African
American W riters W orkshop w ill be
held Thursday, February 7 ,7 -9 p.m. at
the Beaver Hall, Oregon Historical Cen-
cascade Festival o f African Films
You are invited to the Cascade
Festival of African films that will be
held in honor of Black History M onth on
the Cascade Cam pus o f Portland Com ­
munity College. Four outstanding A fri­
can films will be shown on successive
Wednesdays throughout February at two
different times: 12 noon and 7:30 p.m.,
in Room 122, Terrell Hall. A dmission is
free and the public is welcome.
The four films that will be shown
are the following:
February 6 - The Camp at Thiaroye,
the Oregon prem iere of the new film by
Ousmane Sembene o f Senegal, A frica’s
forem ost director.
February 13 - Yeelen (brightness)
produced and directed by Souleym ane
Cisse o f Mali.
February 20 - La Vie E st Belle
produced and directed by N gangura
M weze and Benoit Lamu o f Zaire.
February 27 - Faces of W om en, a
film from the Ivory C oast directed by
Desire Ecare.
W e expect the Cascade Festival of
African Films to be one o f the m ost
exciting cultural events o f the new year.
We hope that you will be able to attend
all o f the films.
The History Of African-Americans In Aviation
In 1917, Eugene Jaques Bullard,
an American who faced racial discrim i­
nation in his country’s arm ed forces,
joined the French Foreign Legion and
becam e the only black pilot to fly in
W orld W ar I. W ith his pet monkey
“ Jimmy ” on his shoulder, Bullard flew
missions on the W estern Front, dow n­
ing two enemy aircraft. Forced out of
his position by the discrimination of
high ranking American military offi­
cials, Bullard was grounded. But the
spirit o f his achievem ents inspired
African-Am ericans the world over to
take wing. In his footsteps, the history
o f Blacks in Aviation was off and run­
ning.
In tribute to this forgotten page of
history, NEPCO, Inc. is organizing a
traveling exhibition to salute the brave
men and women who have dedicated
their talents to this field. A com prehen­
sive look at the contributions o f African-
Americans in Aviation History, from
Eugene Bullard through the Space Age,
is being scheduled fo ra twelve-city tour,
beginning in Atlanta in the fall o f 1991.
Unfortunately, few records have been
kept recording this exciting and impor­
tant period of our history. A research
team is currently working on com pil­
ing information about commercial, mili­
tary, and private contributions to A via­
tion to place on display in the tour.
Because o f the relatively short history
o f Aviation as a whole, we are in hopes
that some of you may have been eye
witnesses to history. Readers with any
information or mem orabilia regarding
the history o f A frican-A m ericans in
Aviation, particularly prior to 1940,
are encouraged to contact: K eith
Resseau, National Ethnic Prom otions
Co., 3819 O akcliff Industrial Court,
Doraville, G A 30340.
CREED OF THE BLACK PRESS
Tbe Black Press believes that Am erica can best lead Uie world away from social and
national antagonisms when It accords to every person, regardless of race, color, or
creed, htll human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing no person, the Black
Press strives to help every person In Uie firm belief that all arc h u rt as long as anyone
Is held back.
You are invited to attend:
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Sunday, February 10,1:30 - 5:00
Beaver Hall, Oregon Historical Center
(Enter building at main Ellipse, S.W. Park Ave. and Madison or through the
bookshop, S.W. Madison and Broadway)
--------------------------------•
An evening of poetry readings by
members of the Northwest
African American Writers
Workshop.
This illustration depicts the fir s t Black vole in America and appeared in an 1867 issue o f Harper s magazine
PDC Salutes Black History Month
February 1991
For the third year. Portland Development Commission employees will observe Black
History Month through this year's theme: A Matter of Color: The Meaning ot Race in
American Culture.
PDC employees will participate in brown-bag lunches and discussion forums, share
educational displays, view films and participate in lectures.
The opening program will be held Friday, February 1, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the
Portland Building second floor auditorium. It will feature Dr. Darrell Millner, Chairman
of Black Studies at Portland State University, as keynote speaker and special guest
soloist, 16-year old Master Goldie Irby. PDC invites other City employees to join in
the opening program.
Thursday, February 7,7-9 p.m.
Beaver Hall, Oregon Historical Center
Through the month-long program, employees will explore the evolving nature of the
meaning of race in America. Through this examination we can share a clearer view of
the past to help understand the present and participate in the character of the future.
(Please enter the building through the Madison St. parking structure)
PDC
WMlWiO
A d d itio n a l inform ation: O rego n H istorical Society,
1230 S.W. Park A ve ., Portland, 503/222-1741, x 80.
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