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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 11, 1995)
1 Volume \ \ \ Number 2 Ser\ mg the coinmunits through cultural diversitY g New Stop* P J Carlesimo coaches the Portland Trail Blazers in his first year in the NBA. The Portland Observer pays tribute to the life o f civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. jâ i (The er M ichael L eighton K in g ’ s coat ta il to represent the process o f m o vin g ahead in life w ith indepen dence. A young w om an represents the im m ig ra tio n o f o u r so cie ty w ith the hope o f a land w ith great p o te n tia l. Dente, a p ro fesso r at the U n iv e rs ity o f P ortland, was selected as the s c u lp to r in 1992. H is w orks inclu de the life size bronze m onum ent o f St. Francis o f A ssisi w ith a w o lf and a lam b at the G ro tto in northeast P ortland. O ther w orks inclu de the “ N a m in g o f M t. Je ffe rs o n ,” d e p ic tin g C aptain W ill iam C la rk in 1 806 from Wauds B lu f f on the U n iv e rs ity o f P o rtlan d campus. T his m onum ent also includes fig ures o f Y o rk , a black slave, la te r freed by C la rk , and a W illa m e tte V a lle y C u s h o o k In d ia n guide. Dente was chosen as the s c u lp to r o f the K in g statute because o f his e x p e ri ence in ethn ic themes and his rem ark able a b ility to capture the passion o f hum anity in his fig u re s. series of clay prototypes have added life to the plans for erecting a statute in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. A A rtis t and scu lp to r M ic h a e l Dente has produced a new series o f m odels fo r the w ork. The M a rtin L u th e r K in g Jr. M e m o ria l Sculpture P roject has been a grass Economist Sees Inner roots e ffo rt over several years to erect City Gold an 8 -fo o t m onum ent o f K in g and three Hailed economist Michael E. Porter, supporting figures. author o f the cluster theory o f global eco O rganizers are hop in g fu n d ra is in g nomic growth, says inner cities in America w ill be in place to cast the m onum ent can be turned into economic boom towns. later this year w ith d e d ica tio n ju s t a year The Harvard professor argues that even away. Space fo r the statute has already though the incomes o f inner city residents been reserved on the co nve ntio n center are low, their concentration in relatively grounds on M a rtin L u th e r K in g Jr. B lv d . I small areas near downtowns represent tre Dente said he expects to create the mendous purchasing power. bigger than life size o il clay, p ly w o o d and styrofoam m old by th is sp ring or Jackson Considers summer, w hich w ou ld then be ready fo r Another Run casting at the foundry. The finished p ro d Rev. Jesse Jackson took his “ Rise up uct w ould be cast o f bronze. I and vote” message to London during the T his great m onum ent is to be d e d i recent holiday period. Jackson delivered cated to the sacrifices o f D r. K in g and an address on British television accusing the countless num ber o f people w ho be I the country’ s ruling Conservative Party lieved in his dream fo r freedom and the I and the increasingly powerful Republican on-go ing march fo r tru th and ju s tic e . Party in America o f both pushing policies i Placed at the co nve ntio n center, it which are harmful to blacks, other m inor w ill send out a message to the w o rld that ities and women. He also indicated that he O regon rem em bers and b e lie v e s in I is considering ch allenging President K in g ’ s dream and struggle. | Clinton fo r election in 1996. “ I t ’ s, going to be gorgeous,” Dente said, describ ing the w o rk from his home Independent Party Finds in north Portland. His m odels have evolved by in c o r Favor p orating his own experience w ith the Two surveys show that at least 50 ideas o f com m ittee members o f the n on percent o f African Americans would jo in p ro fit m em orial p ro je c t o rg a n iz a tio n . an independent political party. Experts say that independent politics is rapidly becom ing a viable option to blacks tired o f a two- party system which has not delivered and many say has taken the black vote for granted. Dr. Ronald Waters, o f Howard University, says, “ It seems that in the last decade the number o f blacks who said they would jo in an independent party has dou uring last year’s State of the bled.” City address, Mayor Vera Katz “ pure speculation.” He said he had the best jo b in the w orld and had no plans to resign. J Memorial Needs Financial Support Artist Michael Dente shows the sculptured prototype, a model in miniature of the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial statute, promoters plan to erect at the Oregon Convention Center. The prototypes show D r. K in g step pin g fo rw a rd to d e liv e r his message o f universal e q u a lity , freedom , and ju s tic e . Katz Prepares The State Of The City Address D stressed her com m itm ent to re-b rid g in g the gap b etw een the people and their elected officials by providing a more responsive and The primary and alternative ju ry has accessible city government. Through been seated to hear evidence in the C J . the P o rtla n d /M u ltn o m a h C o u n ty Simpson trial. The primary panel includes Progress Board and the Office of I eight women and four men o f which eight Ombudsman -- both Katz creations — are African-American, two Hispanic, one | white and one mixed-race. The alternate | she is working to mend what she called a “ ru p tu re of t r u s t ” b e tw e e n I ju ry panel is comprised o f nine women and government and the people. three men o f which seven are black, four Jurors Chosen In Simpson Trial white and one Hispanic. Nation's Population Grows The U.S. population is about 261.6 m illion people, an increase o f 2.5 m illion I or about 1 percent over New Year's Day last year, according to the Census Bureau. The country’s largest states are California, | Texas and New York. On Friday, January 13, Mayor V era Katz w ill reflect on the year 1994 -- a year o f economic growth and prosperity in Portland -- and w ill outline her goals for ’95. Katz’ s commitment to her top priorities -- public safety, economic enhancement and develop ment. and government efficiency and respon siveness - has remained consistent through out her term. Join us, as Mayor Katz discuss es the state o f our city, and shares her vision for a challenging New Year. Benson Hotel, M ayfair Room. Program Now Murder Rates Compared According to the Justice Department, young black men were almost 14 times more likely to be murdered during 1992 than the general population. Black males age 12 to 24 were victims o f homicide at a rate o f about 115 per 100.000. Young black males constituted 17.7 percent o f all homicide victims, even though they were only 1.3 percent o f the U.S. population. 250 ‘It’s Going To Be Gorgeous’ Work Moves Forward On King Statute by order to head up President C linton’s 1996 I re-election bid. Brown called the rumors See special Section C, inside. tí ¿mb C*r IN i Commerce Secretary Ron Brown has I denied rumors that he w ill quit his post in 1995 King Birthday Issue See Sports, page B2. Brown Says He's Staying Ja,m an II Mayor Vera Katz 12:15-1:15 p.m. Luncheon reservations and cancellations, call 222-2582 by 2 p.m. Thurs day, January 12; $11 members, $15 non members. Coffee tickets avai lable at the door, limited free seating in back. Doors open at 11:30 a m. Musical Tribute To Martin Luther King Jr. K O IN -T V w ill broadcast a one-hour prime time musical presentation, “ Now is the Time, A Tribute to M artin Luther King, Jr.” featuring James DePreist and the Oregon Symphony, Sunday. January 15 at 8pm. The program, highlighting the work o f Joseph Schwantner. opens with remarks from Ed Bradley o f the CBS News magazine 60 M in utes and is hosted by NewsCenter 6 weekend anchor Ken Boddie Included in the program is an interview with Mr. DePreist and a special story about local area school children who are emulating Dr. K in g ’s dream. T he p ro g ra m h ig h lig h t s the Schw antner w o rk , “ N ew M o rn in g fo r the W o rld : daybreak o f F reedom ” w hich includes sections o f n arra tion by b a ri tone Raymond Bazemore. EDITORIAL HOUSING GENERAL NEWS ENTERTAINMENT A2 A3 A4 A5 A yo un g man has his sleeve ro lle d up s y m b o liz e s a readiness to c o n tin u e K in g ’ s w o rk. A little g ir l lets go o f You can help makethe Martin Luther King Jr. M em orial Sculpture a reality through your financial support. I t ’ s e x p e c te d to c o s t up to $ 150,000 to com plete the p ro je c t on the grounds o f the O regon C onven tio n C enter. D onations can be send to the M a rtin L u th e r K in g Jr. S culpture Fund, P.O. Box 1809, P ortland, OR 97207. F o r m ore in fo rm a tio n you can c a ll 283 -1 63 8. Coretta King To Visit Coretta Scott King w ill come to Portland Thursday, Jan. 19 to celebrate the recording release o f the Oregon Symphony’s special tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. Music D irector James DePreist leads the orchestra fo r the world-premiere re cording o fN ico las Flagello’s “ The Passion o f M a rtin L u th e r K in g ” and Joseph Schwantner’s “ New M orning fo r the World: Daybreak r f Freedom.” Mrs. King, the w idow o f the late c iv il rights leader, wrote the forward for the booklet the accompanies the recording, available on tape and compact disc. The Urban League o f Portland w ill be the beneficiary o f a reception to celebrate the release, inspired by the life and words o f Dr. M artin Luther K ing Jr. The Patron Party Music Director James DePreist w ith Mrs. King and James DePreist w ill take place at the Heathman Hotel at 5:30 phony for selecting us as the beneficiary o f p.m. Tickets are $100 per person. this reception and for honoring the memory A second Community Reception w ill o f another great mediator, Dr. King.” begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Grand Lobby o f the “ I believe this music to be the finest Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Tickets are inspired by the life and words o f M artin $25 fo r members o f the Urban League or Luther King Jr.,” said James DePreist. “ It is Oregon Symphony; $35 for non-members. gratifying to see a product o f such artistic The Community Reception w ill fea merit receive such a high level o f national ture a performance by the Cultural Recre attention.” The recording received funding ation Band, a Northeast Portland youth from the National Endowment for the Arts, orchestra. A t 7:30 p.m. all guests w ill move the Copland Fund for Music, Bank o f Am er into the Concert H all to hear remarks by ica, Nike, and R.R. Donnelley and Sons. James DePreist and Coretta Scott K ing and Hie Portland release party is being co see a screening o f the Symphony’s Septem- sponsored by N ike and Bank o f America. >er performance o f “ N ew M orning for the Reception tickets are on sale now at the W orld.” A video excerpt w ill also be broad Urban League, ION. Russell St., (503) 280- cast on Sunday, Jan. 15. 2600. Copies o f the recording (K O C H In “ Music can be an incredible mediator,” ternational Classics C D 7293) w ill be avail said Urban League President and CEO Law able at the reception and in record stores rence J. Dark. “ We thank the Oregon Sym- after Jan 15. METRO Bl RELIGION B6 CLASSIFIEDS B7 » à J
