P O R T L fl
Volume XXI, Number 28
«SERVER
New President Of
Black Publishers!
M
PAGE 2
A Job with Benefits
Should be a Basic
Human Right in the
U.S.
by Ron Daniels
Robert IV. Bogle, left, President, The Philadelphia Tribune, accepts
congratulations following his recent election as President of the
National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA). Chatting with him
during the 51st Annual convention of the NNPA at the Omni Hotel,
Atlanta, Ga., are Betty Shine, center, media Supervisor, Pepsi-Cola
Company and Charles Tisdale, Publisher, The Jackson (Miss.)
Advocate. Tisdale had worked in the 1950s as a sales representative
for Pepsi-Cola Metropolitan Bottling Co., in Memphis, Tenn. His co
worker had been Dr. C. Eric Lincoln, then a graduate student and now
a Professor of Religion and Culture at Duke University. A long time
supporter of the NNPA, Pepsi-Cola sponsored a luncheon that
featured Rev. Bernice King, youngest daughter of the late Dr. Martin
Luther King, as the main speaker.
PAGE 2
I Revival at the New
Testament Church
PAGE 3
! Vacation Bible
School "Island In
The Son"
PAGE 3
PAGE 3
PAGE 4
Elaine Rohrer
PAGE 4
Artquake 91 Literary
Arts Finalists to
'Read Off' at Key
Largo
PAGE 4
Letting Go:
Resolving Past
Issues, by Ullysses
TUcker, Jr.
PAGE 5
INDEX
Superior Student
LeTanya Renee'
Carter
BY PROFESSOR MCKINLEY BURT
If media reports arc correct at this
early
date, the tide of opinion is run
he President’s opinion of his
ning against “ the most qualified can
choice to fill the Supreme Court
didate.” Interestingly, the strong op
vacancy is hardly shared by the faculty
position by several predominately
of the Harvard Law School or the Ameri
“ white” groups with considerable clout
can Bar Association; neither by Afri
is said to have won the gratitude of
can American Professor, Derrick Bell,
several prominent blacks who feel they
nor by Professor Christopher Edley Jr.,
now may be spared the “ embarrasment”
“ No one can look at Clarence Tho
of coming out against one of their own.
m as’ record and find the claim he was
The National Abortion Rights Action
the best-qualified person remotely
League (NARAL) has made its posi
credible... requires heroic effort to keep
tion clear as they organize a coalition
a straight face.”
to block Thom as’ Senate confirma
It is true, of course, that as colu-
tion. “ His statements reveal his rejec
mist Ellen Goodman puts it, “ This is
tion of the constitutional basis for the
the life experience, the pluralism of
right to privacy, including the right to
background (in a justice) that liberals
choose an a abortion.” They have
want to be reflected. And it is hard for
been joined by the National Organiza
civil rights groups to turn away from a
tion for Women (NOW).
black man who has ‘made it in Amer
The elderly in this nation clearly
ica.’ ” But that is just what may hap
are concerned about the “ failures” of
pen as we begin a week highlighted by
Thomas when he was head of the Equal
an official F.B.I. appearance at the Na
Employment Opportunity Commission
tional Convention of the N A A CP-to
between 1982 and 1990. Dan Schul-
reassure EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OP
dcr, legislative director for the Na
PORTUNITY FOR BLACKS IN THE
tional Council of senior citizens, flays
AGENCY (without quotas?).
him “ because of his bias for employ
And there is further irony in that
ers against a class of workers.” Under
the Thomas choice coincided with the
Thomas the EEOC allowed the statute
dedication of the Memphis motel where
of limitations to lapse on an estimated
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assas-
13,000 age discrimination cases. The
sinated-as a NATIONAL CIVIL
agency also allowed companies to re
RIGHTS MUSEUM. Hundreds of civil
duce pension benefits for workers who
rights advocates and celebrities gath
remain past retirement age and adopted
ered there, including Rosa Parks, Coretta
rules to help employers avoid lawsuits
Scott King, Morgan Freeman and Pete
by older workers. Thomas fought with
Seeger, to celebrate the first center to
his own staff over these issue.
hold a comprehensive exhibit docu
But, let us look at the man him
menting the civil rights movement in
self, his statements, positions -albeit
thiscountry. A wag has asked, “ would
superficially at this point. This propo
it be appropriate at the confirmation
nent of “ bootstrap conservation ’’ was
hearing to ask the candidate for the
bom of dirt poor southern sharecrop
high bench had he ever BROKEN THE
pers, deserted by his father, raised by
LAW TO SECURE JUSTICE UNDER
grandparents. (Weren’t so many of us?)
THE LAW? At a lunch counter, at the
His education was secured at three
rear of a bus, in a Birmingham jail?”
Catholic parochial institutions in se
(Add to those present at that dedication
quence before entering Yale Law
James Famer, Julian Bond, Daisy Bates,
School. His first job as a practicing
James Forman, Benjamin Hooks, et
attorney was as a protege of the then
al.)
Attorney Gcncral/now senior senator
T
Vesta Williams
Next Week
elinda Rose Jordan and Tricia
Judge Roosevelt Robinson
Volunteer Drivers
Needed
Do you have a valid drivers li
cense? Two hours per month to spare?
Northeast Portland seniors need you to
*«elp provide transportation on week
days, evenings and weekends. Call
Project Linkage, a division of Metro
politan Family Service, at 249-8215 to
volunteer.
Read My Lips: Clarence Thomas
Is The Most Qualified
Mt. Olivet’s Annual
Fisherama
News
Religion
Entertainment
His Opinion
News
News
Health Special
Classifieds
Bids
Judge Roosevelt Robinson
Named Distinguished
Alumnus Of The Year
McClendon, both of Portland,
OR, received their degrees from Clark
Atlanta University as part of the uni
versity’s 1991 commencement cere
monies held recently at the Atlanta
Civic Center.
Melinda received a B.A. in Psy
chology. She was a member of Psi Chi,
the National Psychology Honor Soci
ety, and plans to pursue a career as a
Public Health Associate for the Center
for Disease Control in Florida.
Tricia received a B.A. in English.
She plans to continue her studies in
Law School.
In The Beginning
Was the Word, Part 1
by McKinley Burt
I
July 10,1991
"The Eyes and Ears o f The Community"
Local Students
Receive Degrees
From Clark
Atlanta University
25<P
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of Missouri, John Danforth, a republi
can. Following the senator to Wash
ington as a legislative assistant, Tho
mas has often said he was “ deeply
grateful to Danforth because HE PAID
NO ATTENTION TO MY RACE!”
So much for “ O ne’s own bootstraps”
in a racist land where Thomas’ series
of benefactors “ did the right thing” at
a right time when they now could
safely ride the crest of a new liberal
American sentiment created by the
successful legal efforts of civil rights
attorneys like Thurgood Marshall and
by the ultimate sacrifice of freedom
fighters like Reverend King.
Many Americans, white and black
are increasingly nervous as they recall
’.he divisive effects of Booker T. Wash-
ington’s position when he originated
that “ bootstrap” philosophy a hundred
years ago. Blacks are even more nerv
ous as they gain the full im portof Clar
ence Thomas’ article to the Los Ange
les Times (Nov. 15, 1985).
“ No one really speaks for black
America...The argument that the views
of the black leadership are consonant
with those of black Americans misses
the point, since MOST BLACKS ARE
NOT REPRESENTED BY BLACK
POLITICIANS. Nor are most blacks
members of organizations that claim
to represent them.”
The man is greatly admired by
conservatice republicans, Patrick J.
Buchanan, several black former school
mates and his grandmother who says
that “ God has wrought this miracle.”
Other opinions range downward to that
of my neighbor who describes him as a
“ fugitive from the Twilight Zone.”
We anticipate quite a confirmation
battle in the senate over the president’s
QUOTA CONDIDATE. The senators
are not likely to quietly “ advise and
consent” to his selection of Clarence
Thomas for the Supreme Court va
cancy. My own preference is that I
have always chosen “ I have a dream ’ ’
over ti.c crass "R ead my lips.”
niversity of Portland has named
He was named Multnomah County
Multnomah County District Court
Deputy District Attorney in 1978 and
was named to the Multnomah County
Judge Roosevelt Robinson Distinguished
bench by Gov. Neil Goldschmidt in
Alumnus of the Year, honoring his sig
nificant contributions to the commu
1990.
Prior to joining the bench he was a
nity, to his profession, and to the uni
member of the Oregon Parole Board
versity.
and was both a founding member and
The Rev. David Tyson, CSC, presi
president of the Oregon Association of
dent of the university, formally pre
Black Lawyers.
sented Robinson with the award June
He has also chaired the St. Andrew
15 at the university’s annual Reunion
Legal Clinic Board and served on the
Dinner.
Equal Justice Committee of the Metro
Robinson graduated from the uni
politan Human Relations Commission
versity cum laude in 1970 and went on
to Northwestern School of Law in Port
in Portland.
Currently he chairs both the North/
land, graduating in 1976. He entered
Northeast Community Mental Health
private practice that year in Portland,
Center and the Yaun Child Care Center
specializing in workers’ compensation
in Portland.
claims and in domestic relations.
U
Governor Announces
$5 Million in Criminal
Justice Grants
overnor
Barbara Roberts an
to fighting crime in six areas; commu
nity policing, prevention programs, drug
nounced grants totalling over $5
education, drug treatment, gangs, and
million to programs targeted to fight
juvenile justice.
the spread of drugs and violent crime.
“ We are working hard to improve
The federal funds are allocated
the partnerships between local law en
through the Criminal Justice Services
forcement and state and federal gov
Division and provide funding for local
ernment. By combining efforts, pool
programs in all regions of the state. The
ing resources, offering improved train
grants also provide funding for state
ing programs and improving commu
wide crime and drug prevention pro
nications, these programs can make a
grams.
major impact on violent crime and drugs
Included in the grants announced
across Oregon.
are new programs including DNA typ
An advisory board consisting of
ing of sex offenders
law enforcement officials, judges, leg
($175,000), programs to help preg
islators and citizens from around the
nant women addicted to drugs
state assists Webber and Governor
($175,000), a Crime Prevention Re
Roberts in reviewing grant applications.
source Center ($150,000), increased
“ This money will help us keep
money to fight gangs ($750,000), and
kids off drugs, out of gangs and off the
drug diversion and treatment ($300,000).
streets,” said Advisory Committee
The remaining grants are for pro
member and State Rep Tom Novick,
grams already in existence across the
D-Portland.
state.
Under guidelines established by
“ Our goal is prevention-crim e
the U.S. Department of Justice Drug
prevention, drug prevention, gang pre
Control and System Improvement Grant
vention,” Governor Roberts said.
Program, at least49% of the funds must
“ These programs reflect my commit
go to local programs. Webber said in
ment to taking people away from the
Oregon
almost 56% of the grants pass
vicious cycles that lead them to drugs
through
to local law enforcement agen
and gangs and crime and offer them a
cies.
positive alternative.”
The state receives the remaining
Criminal Justice Services Division
44%
for state-wide programs, training
Director Catherine Webber said the
programs and administration.
grants reflect the state's commitment
G
5
pedal health information
inside. Look for continued health
coverage next week