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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 5, 1993)
x/ 4» V • 4 9 » ♦ • • * • • « • . V » J * »-X « # * * * * < * P aoe T he P ortland O bserver • F ebruary 5, 1993 13 BLACK HISTORY Black Wings Ttffufw ANOTHER YOUNG BLACK M AN Another young Black Man That's laid in the sand. Cut down by the hand, of another young Black Man. Photo by Black Wings and Harold Hurd BY 2ND LIEUTENATNT BRAIN A. HILL came after Charles Lindbergh’s his the Chicago club was the formation of the first nationwide organization toric transatlantic flight in 1927. * The United States of America, In 1929, the Bessie Coleman for black aviators, the National for the 68th year, has chosen the Aero Club was established in Los Airmen’s Association. month of February to recognize and Angeles, California. Aviation en Early inroads for black celebrate the contributions of Afri- thusiasts in the Los ‘Angeles com America’s participation in aviation I can-Americans to its rich and storied munity founded the club to promote were made primarily through perfor history. Each of us, regardless of skin and foster an aviation consciousness mances in air shows. Black stunt color, realizes that our present his among black Americans. The club pilots and parachutists gained wide tory and future are shaped by the past. was named after Bessie Coleman, spread notoriety while performing Though many of us are unaware of the first licensed black pilot in the daredevil aerial feats for predomi this fact, an overwhelming number United States. Coleman trained in nantly black audiences across the of career fields in today’s society France and then returned to America Midwest. This spawning fame even have a history and tradition that spans to pursue a career in stunt flying. Her tually gained the attention and peaked decades and generations. The cel life tragically came to an untimely the interest of the United States mili ebration of Black History Month pre end in a 1926 aircraft accident. Her tary through its fledgling Army Air sents a great opportunity to share name became a symbol of inspira Corps. some of the tradition and history that (2nd Lieutenant Brian A. Hill is tion to other young black Americans continues to shape not only black a 1991 graduate of the United States seeking to enter aviation careers. America, but our entire American The legacy of Bessie Coleman Air Force Academy. He received his cultural society. was carried on in Chicago, Illinois pilot wings from United States Air As a young pilot in the United when the Challenger Air Pilot’s As Force Undergraduate Pilot Training State Air force, it is clear to me that sociation was formed in 1931. The in November 1992. Lt. Hill is cur I have joined a long line of coura mission of promoting an aviation rently the Chief, Advertising and Pro geous Americans dedicated to supe consciousness was the same as that motion Branch for the 361st United rior service to their country through of the 1929 Bessie Coleman Aero States Air Force recruiting Squadron military aviation. As a young black Club, but one distinguishing trait of in Seattle, Washington. pilot in the United States Air Force, it has become apparent to me that 1 2nd G LOU fid M AM M OTH am a descendant and beneficiary of c courageous black Americans who OllOW struggled and at times suffered in s eConj Annual Coloreó , S U N D A Y , A U G . 2 8 , 12:30 P.M their sustained efforts to serve Air and Ground Show SPECIAL FEATURE America in the field of military avia W ILLIE tion There outstanding citizens are greatly responsible for the increased a t 2 p. m JO N E S 1 6 7 th and Ffatur:t.g opportunities and successes black So Western A»e aviators have experienced in the lat M iss D o ro th y D a rb y o f C le ve la n d BRING WORLD S A i * AL ACROBATICS R C clS TURNS SPINS RECORD 5 o pr , rial Gir. Para- lute Jumper ter half of the 20th century. This, the A RiBBC** C L T T IN C »o» D r aved P jrjc ^ u fc CtAZY FLYINC )wrrp to Ame» c i M ajor G eorge F ish e r first installment of a four part series, ADDED will herald the enduring contribu- Jl ’ C l u c a ; i n a w:-..-anor.al MOTORCYCLE . j u a • u c 'jv c d p a ra c h u te leap fre m a G ia n t Plane A TTRACTIONS Uons made by America s black avia- w , u„ Airplanc Rlde & Stunt Flying KEN H UN TER THRILLS GALORE tion pioneers. . Purr Cor.«'; rf f Mobile n a <ieath-4»f)'t*< d iita on a I •*»< ‘imcwl Hu«ff Bros naw’ific Record Holders American interest and enthusi- M r'V le threu^h .1 ilair.i-ii * eien »all of fire t»»a*t<cd to P o» H-s Ship »or WU» |ones asm of aviation was ignited in 1903 A D M IS S IO N . F IF T Y C E N T S with the historic flights of the Wright lo cation h .: m < .m tj . resen’ i l »es of Pic A c’ CrseatiCS Ad«” a^d N A A Aate Reet» fo be Fresen» Brothers at Kitty Hawk, North Caro-1 h ’ W « ttc ie iie r ». C, MAC» MMCNS »k.«« 3 • . . : H : lina. A racially discriminating soci- Fu" r,,k “ s’“' z e 1 7 « Come E arly R e fre s h m e n ts ety in the early 1900’s forbade black ifl Muna By Americans the opportunity to realize Cap< C U B Â T » CO N C ER T B A N D M 0 G I S A Hete I» cas« •' 1“ * l»eal will be bel4 See Octabe» I« their dreams of soaring among the 35 c clouds. The breakthrough for black A nMIQQinjU A d u lts America’s entrance into aviation nUmlOulUli C h ild r e n lO c A IR S H O W SUNDAY SEPT. 24 “Showtime Salutes Black History Month” With Profiles Of African- American Directors Blair Underwood And Leslie Harris are among those featured when Showtime commemorates Black History Month with a scries of inter views with the nation’s rising Afri can-Am erican directors entitled “Showtime Salutes Black History M onth.” Throughout the month of February, profiles of up-and-coming directors will air on Showtime to highlight the contributions of African Americans in the film industry. “Showtime Salutes Black His tory M onth” will feature director profiles designed to educate and in form Showtime viewers about the current market for productions by black filmmakers and the issues which face African Americans today. The popularity of movies from a black perspective as w\ n the problems that continue to face minority film makers will be addressed in the pro files. Five directors will be interviewed including “ L .A .L aw ” star Blair Underwood, who makes his directo rial debut and stars as Jesus Christ in “The Second Coming” Leslie Har MARKHAM AIR FIELD Minority Students Interested In Medical Degree May Apply Minority college students and graduates interested in pursuing a medical degree may apply for a six- week summer program held at Baylor College of Medicine and Rice Univer sity, both in Houston The national program, funded in part by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is designed to increase minority representation in medicine by enhancing the partici pants’ competitiveness in the medical school application process Admission is based on academic achievement and interest in medical careers participants must be African- American. Mexican-American, main land Puerto Rican or American In dian. ris, whose film “Just Another Girl On The IRT” will be the first major commercial feature released nation ally by an African-American female director; Uzo, whose first film, “Walls and Bridges” examines interracial love and marriage; Melissa Renee will discuss her short film, “The Fire This Time” set during the L. A. riots last year and Larry Carty will look at blacks who want to be white in his work, “Oreos Wtih Attitude.” The series was shot during the Palm Springs Film Festival and in New York where many of the films that will be presented were introduced to the public. Consulting with The Black Filmmakers Foundation, the Palm Springs Film Festival, the Participants spend mornings in a Sundance institute and the New York medical setting paired with physi Film Society,Show time selected five cians and afternoons in science and new directors whose work promises communications classes at Rice. to gain national attention in 1993. College credit, houstng and a sti “Showtime Salutes Black His tory Mon th” is produced and directed pend arc provided Application dead by Show time’s Deborah Goodwin and line is March 5,1993. For more infor independent producer Ronnie Livia. mation. call (800) 633-6445. BLACK IS: The Monday morning news headline, Pictured the face of man number 9, Who had to be put on ice, Cause somebody took his life. It just doesn't make sense Destruction of life over a silly argument. How many more young Black Men Will be sent from their earthly home, Before we learn that by getting along. We can become strong? Black is a color Nota crime Black is a song With rhythm and rhyme Black is a culture With contents and pride Black is a feeling You don't have to hide Black is the future My w orld to be Another young Black Man That's laid in the sand. Cut down by the hand Of another young Black Man. Black is a character And black is me. Riga Brant OcMey Creen Middle School Portland, Oregon Neomici R. Kendrix Portland, Oregon P re se n te d b y BANK Elje (Oregonian MvcU M*«*©*« mi M&ntk Afro-American Scholars: » Black History Month Activities Opening M onth Celebration* 3rd Floor Conf. Rooms A, B, H, & J Date: Speaker: Featuring: 2/2, 9:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Dr. Wyatt T. Walker M LK Elementary School Choir Historical Perspective Date: Speaker: Topic: Location: 2/10. TBA Phyllis Smith Buffalo Soldiers Gifford Pinchot NF Closing M onth Celebration* 3rd Floor Conf. Rooms A, B, H, & J Date: 2/25.9:30 aun. - 12:00 p.m. Featuring: Sojourner Truth Theatrical Group Jefferson High School Drama Qub Ongoing Activities: Exhibits: “Black Women Against the Odds"* Commission of Black Affairs Work Room 5C '“Tribute To Historically Black Colleges" Gifford Pinchot NF Activists, Video Presentation»* (Santlam Room) 2/4 - Local Color - 11:45 - 1:00 Narrator Dr. Darrell Millner. PSU 2/11 -Mass. 54th Colored Infantry - 11:00- 1:00 Narrator Pierron Doss. USDA Forest Service 2/18 - The Liberators - 11:00 - 1:00 Narrator Pierron Doss. USDA Forest Service and Writers 2/23 - Buffalo Soldiers - 11:45 - 1:00 Narrator Dr. Darrell Millner, PSU Children's Basketball Tournament: Date: Location: Participants: 2/20 - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Church Community Center - 7th & Alberta Elementary & Middle Schools • Bolxrt Duncan F lu « . X U SW rtfrt. Porttontf, O .g o n • fo r m o r t Into, c o n f e r D f l y n King J 2 d -T 7 IS or U ndo M o r d 32d-2SOd Sponiond by: racflc N onhneit RegtoruKeiearch Sutton Otfford rtnchci NF Ml Hood N r Army Corpi o f Engineers US Army Corps at Engineer* R,tk>x) OwtnCl Percy Ricks: An African- American Hero ------ -■ - . . . . . Ricks’assignment and it was marked February is Black History Month, during which African Ameri cans who have made a major contri bution archonorcd Percy D Ricks Jr was such a man and his story is an important part of our American Cul ture. Ricks was a master sergeant in the United Slates Army who was the focal point of an experiment to test whether integration was feasible in the military services. On June 10, 1946, 19 enlisted men. both black and white, from Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, were transferred to the Army Signal Corps Photographic Center in Long Island City, New York This was an unprecedented secret test that put an integrated unit of soldiers under the direct command of a Black sergeant for the very first time, and most of the whites were from the South. Special Order Num ber 118 was the order authorizing 1 Restricted Ricks’ success in the com- mand directly afforded President Truman the confidence to desegre gate the Army in 1948. In 1946, Percy Ricks stood alone, a top secret guinea pig whose actions gave proof to the words later immor talized by Dr Martin Luther King Jr. “A man should not be judged by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character ■AM. * MJkA'