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F ebruary 1, 1995 • T he P ortland O bserver
P age B S
BLACK HISTORY
ŒIjeÇorHanb (©bseruer
Portland's Black Ministers Form Union
Association Forms In Early 50s As Beginning To The Albina Ministerial Alliance
the Portland Coliseum is currently
located, as well as in the area around
Emanuel Hospital. In tact, one ot the
concerns during that time was the
dislocation of African Americans
from their homes, and the methods
used by the City of Portland to obtain
the properties for the development ot
the Portland Coliseum and Emanuel
Hospital.
munity and engage them in produc­
tive civil rights activities. This was at
a time when Black Power and Anti-
W ar sentiments were beginning to
have a considerable influence on
youth throughout the country. “C hoir
Fests” were held in local parks in
order to recruit young people to work
on community projects associated
with the U rban League and the
NAACP. However, the Alliance’s
first civil rights project that dealt
solely with a socioeconomic issue
was the hiring of African American
grocery store checkers in the local
supermarkets. The Safeway store
which was then located at Broadway
and W illiams streets, along with the
Kienow’s and Fred Meyers stores
were contacted and alter consider­
able negotiations, agreements for the
hiring of African American checkers
were reached. The ministers proved
to be very effective in their negotia­
tions with city officials and local
businesses, primarily because they
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a
had ■ the
"ear"
of the African Ameri­
can community and city administra­
tors could not silence them or their
congregations.
The Alliance engaged in many
community projects, one of which
took place in 1967 and involved rais­
ing funds for students in the Jefferson
High School choir to participate in a
cultural exchange program in Japan.
Bishop W L McKinney, the Albina
M inisterial Alliance President ap­
pealed to the Alliance members and
In the mid 1950s a group of
A frican-A m erican m inisters with
churches in North and Northeast
Portland established a ministerial
association w hich w as to serve as the
precursor to the establishment of the
Albina Ministerial Alliance, Inc. The
purpose of the association was to
toster fellowship and goodwill among
the pastors and their congregations.
Reaching Youth
R evivals were held at d ifferen t
churches with choir exchanges to
In the early 1960s, the Alliance
help members ot the different con­
sought to reach the youth of the com ­
gregations get acquainted. These re­
vivals which were often held over the
period ot a week became known as
"A Week of Prayer and Preaching".
The revivals proved to be quite suc­
cessful in uniting the congregations
around prayer and song.
However, by late 1959, indi­
viduals and organizations outside ot
i n ia
the church began to address social
issues which were adversely impact­
ing the African American com m u­
nity in North and Northeast Portland.
Civil Rights concerns began to move
to the forefront of the com m unity's
■»fe
agenda. C ox’s funeral home which
published the local newspaper began
to print articles addressing these con­
cerns and Dr. DeNorval Unthank
along with Bill Berry ot the Urban
League emerged as vocal leaders ot
the community expressing the need
tor change in the socioeconomic con­
ditions of Portland's African Ameri­
can citizens. It was during this period
that Reverend Eugene Boyd ap­
proached Reverends Tecumseh G ra­
ham and Cortland Cambric with the
idea of organizing an interdenomi­
national ministerial alliance which
would link ministerial fellowship w ith
the civil rights movement. The intent
was to establish a “ministerial voice"
along with that of the Urban League
and the NAACP in addressing the
civil and human rights needs of the
community. Several of the ministers
had begun to recognize this need
^ P r e s id e n t GoreAnd Sen. Braun Join MLK “Living The Dream" Luncheon At Philadelphia King Association.
since their congregations had mi­
grated from the south and had prior
to their arrival in Portland, depended
upon their ministers to be involved in
the civic and social affairs of the
tional Service Act into law in
Gore declared he was moved
community.
and only full-time outreach affili­
In the city of Brotherly and
1994. It urges that the King Holi­
to be able to attend the historic
ate of the MLK Jr„ Center in
Group Takes Albina
Sisterly Love, the Philadelphia
day
be celebrated as a day of
ceremony which gave him time
Atlanta to have an active program
Martin
Luther
King,
Jr.
A
sso­
national
service as well as a day
Name
to reflect on Martin Luther King s
of education in the teachings and
ciation
for
Nonviolence,
Inc.,
of
inter-racial
cooperation and
remarkable life. By resisting vio­
Fifteen ministers attended the
life of Dr. King. The Association's
kicked
off
with
huge
success
its
youth
anti-violence
initiatives,
lence, Dr. King moved the heart
initial meeting, many drawn from the
F ounder P resident is Dr. C.
13th
Annual
benefit
“Living
The
she
said.
At
the
very
heart
of Dr.
m in isterial asso ciatio n that had
of America, he said.
DeLores Tucker. It is chaired by
Dream" luncheon to an over­
K
ing's
philosophy
was
exhorta­
In opening rem arks, Dr.
emerged in the early 50s. The meet­
Waverly Easley, former publisher
flow attendance, marking the
tion to service. It is fitting that
Tucker declared: "Today is ...an
ing was held in the annex of Mt.
of the Philadelphia Tribune; Dr.
66th K ing's anniversary.
Vice President Gore is a special
historic day because it marks 10th
Olivet Baptist Church and Reverend
Teta Banks, is executive director.
T his historic cerem ony
guest at the ceremonies. We see
anniversary of the National King
James Clow, Pastor of Mt. Olivet
The luncheon was preceded
marks the 10th anniversary of
the presence of the Vice Presi­
Holiday, the first National Holi­
suggested that the new group be
by adramatic “Let Freedom Ring
the National King Holiday, since
dent as a testament to the com ­
day commemorating and Afri­
named The Albina Ministerial Alli­
ceremony featuring Vice Presi­
the
Federal
King
Holiday
Act
mitment of the W hite House to
can
American.
Today
also
marks
ance since the majority of African
dent Albert Gore sounding the
was
signed
into
law
three
years
the principles o f equality es­
the first national service day
Americans lived in the Albina Dis­
historic Liberty Bell in the Pavil­
after the Philadelphia MLK As­
poused by Dr. King, “ she said.
which
encourages
each
of
us
to­
trict and many of the concerns re­
ion. Independence Mall. He was
sociation for N onviolence, Inc.,
day to help som ebody." Presi­
garding civil rights were surfacing
joined in the unique ritual by Dr.
was com m issioned by M rs.
dent Bill Clinton signed the Na-
from the Albina District.
Continued to page B9
Tucker.
Coretta Scott King. It is the first
During this time a large percent­
King's Dream Remembered
The B lack C ultural A ffairs
Board has joined with departments
throughout Portland State Universi­
ty to present a diverse selection of
events in celebration of February as
Black History Month.
All ev en ts are open to the
pu b lic and ad m issio n is free u n ­
less o th e rw ise noted. For m ore
in fo rm atio n c o n ta c t Robyn H a r­
ris at 72 5 -5 6 6 0 .
Feb. 3. Noon -1 p.m. C o n cert:
New World Affikah. Multicultural
Center, room 126, Smith Center. 182''
S.W' Broadway
Feb. 6. Noon - I p.m. Film:
Caribbean Freedom Fighters, pre­
sented by Kofi Agorsah. associate
professor ot Black Studies. Smith
Center.
Feb. 7. 10 a.m. - noon. Film:
Caribbean Freedom Fighters. Smith
Center
Feb. 8. Noon - I p.m. Jazz
concert: Mary lin Keller. Sm itht en­
ter's Parkway Commons
Feb. 10. F o ru m : Bcllcurve
Round I able. An open discussion on
the controversial new book I ontact
Affirmative Action Office, 725-4432
Color Lines Are Broken
The civil rights movement of the 1940s and 50s finally bring integration to Little Rock. Ark. schools
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4 /
4
egon.
Membership Grows
By 1969, the Albina Ministerial
Alliance membership had grown con-
s id e ra b ly , R e v e re n d W e n d a ll
W allace was the President of the
AMA and the Alliance which had
been exclusively African American,
primarily due to defacto segregation
prior to 1964, actively sought to
embrace all churches and congrega­
tions residing in the Albina District.
Rev. Dale Stitt and Father Gordon
Dickey became the first Caucasian
ministers to become members ol the
Alliance.
Employment
Targeted
Having successfully m et the
challenges of the city and the busi­
ness community, the Alliance turned
to the issues of employment and train­
ing for the community. An article
appearing in the October 1969 issue
of the Reader’s Digest entitled, "We
Help Ourselves" outlined the forma­
tion of Opportunities Industrializa­
tion Centers which had great prom ­
ise as a method in which to trqin
individuals in the community for the
job market. Rev. Eugene Boyd vis­
ited the national headquarters o f this
organization at the request of Alli­
ance, and returned with information
and materials that lead to the estab­
lishment of the Portland O pportuni­
ties Industrialization Center, (POIC).
The Alliance filed for incorporation
with the State of Oregon during this
same time period and then estab­
lished the first Board of Directors for
the POIC.
Model Cities
In 1969, the City o f Portland
Model Cities Program Action Plan,
which was a five year Demonstration
Project was initiated. In December
of 1970, the Alliance’s Family Day
and Night Child Care Program was
funded and the program which was
originally operated by the M etro­
politan Area 4-C Council began op­
eration in January of 1971. The pro­
gram was initially funded to serve
109 children w ithastaff of six. H ow ­
ever, by the next fiscal year the pro­
gram expanded to serve 161 children
with a staff of nine.
The Alliance continued to pur­
sue social and economic develop­
ment activities through the 1970s.
Under the leadership of Rev. John
Jackson, the A lliance sponsored
Com m unity Clean-up C am paigns
Continued to page B10
lack History Highlights at PSU
age of African Americans lived where
4
their
raise funds
funds for
n n congregations
n o r p o a t inns to to
raise
this effort by stressing the impor­
tance of cultural enrichment for the
youth, many of whom had not previ­
ously been outside the state of O r­
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for time and location
A *
“strives to educate people to end
oppression of any kind." PSU Multi­
cultural Center, room 126, Smith
Center.
Center.
8 p.m. -11 p.m. C oncert: Leg­
Feb. 14. Noon to 1:30 p.m.
endary jazz drummer Billy Cobham
T rib u te to Black W om en presented
and his band. Smith Center Ball­
by black male students. Contact Black
room. Admission $10
Cultural Affairs Board. 725-5660.
Feb. 21.11 a.m. - 2 p.m. C o n ­
Feb. 15. Noon - 1 :30 p.m. Lec­
cert: Soulfood Luncheon and jazz by
tu re : Black and Jewish Relations,
drummer Ron Steen and friends. Smith
presented bv Hubert Locke, dean
Center's Nordic Room 26. Cost $5.
emeritus and professor in the Uni­
Noon - 1 p.m. C oncert: PSU
versity o f W ashington's School o f
Faculty Chorus presents "African
Public Affairs and author o f The
Spirituals," room 75 Lincoln Hall
Black Anti-semitism Controversy,
basement auditorium, 1620 S.W.
just released b\ Susquehanna Uni­
Park.
versity Press. PSU M ulticultural
Feb. 22. Noon - 1 p.m. Gospel
Center. Room 126. Smith Center
C
oncert:
The Brown Sisters Smith
Feb. 16. Noon - 1:30 p.m. Fo-
Center
Parkway
Commons.
rum : B rothersiind Sisters Can We
Feb.
23.
Noon
- 1 p.m. Lec­
Falk’? ’ An open dialogue among Afri­
tu
re
:
Lawrence
Dark,
president of
can American men and women seek­
the
Portland
Urban
League
on Afri­
ing new methods ot communication,
can
Americans
and
history
Smith
room 126 Smith (. enter.
Center
Ballroom.
Feb. 17. Noon - I p.m. C on­
Feb. 24. Noon - I p.m. Forum :
c e rt: HeavenBound Gospel Chorus.
1
he
Evolution
of Malcolm X. a panel
Smith Center s Parkway Commons
discussion
Room
296 Smith Center
Feb. 18. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. W o rk ­
Feb.
28.7
p.m.
C oncert: North­
shop: Understand Internalized Rac­
west
African
American
Ballet Lin­
ism. presented by \ I lies, a Hillsboro-
coln
Performance
Hall,
room
175
based e d u catio n al group which
Feb. 13. N oon-1 :3 0 p.m. T rib ­
ute to Black Men presented by black
female students Room 292, Smith
. -