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A4
Major African American
documentary to premiere
The 50-year silence that has sur­
rounded the contributions of more
than a million African-Americans in
World War II will soon end
A major new documentary, to he
premiered around the country by the
Department of the Army Internation­
al Commemorations Committee (for­
merly the United States of America
50th Anniversary of World War II
Commemorations Committee) and
the National Minority Military Mu­
seum Foundations, finally tells story
of the valor displayed by African-
American service men and women in
World War II, even in the face of
persistent discrimination.
With never-before seen footage
and interviews with more than 60
African-American veterans and his­
torians, the 60-minute "African-
Americans in World War II: A Leg­
acy of Patriotism and Valor” reveals
the critical role black service men
and women played in the allied vic­
tory and in opening future opportuni­
ties, for all minorities, in the military
and on the homefront.
"With this documentary, we want
to bring to light a story that’s been
untold for over 50 years,” says Ll.
Col. Thomas G. Surface, Director of
Public Af fairs for the Department of
the Army International Commemo­
rations. "We not only want to honor
those veterans and their family mem­
bers who served and opened the door
of opportunity to others, we hope to
educate future generations and raise-
people’s awareness about the sacri­
fices these veterans made.
"The harassment, hardships and
prejudice they had to put up with are
a compelling story. Their courage
and accomplishments are a tremen­
dous part of American history.”
The National Minority Military
Museum Foundation, in San Leandro,
CA, an organization dedicated to
preserving the history of African-
Americans and other minorities in
the history of the U.S. armed forces,
became involved with the project
after working with the commemora­
tion committee during filming, says
Charles Blatcher, an Account Man­
ager with American Protective Ser­
vices, is the Foundation’s founder
the CEO.
"Our primary efforts are to deal
with the veterans’ groups to insure
that they will be involved.” says
Blatcher. "Our military history is the
basis of every other right of entitle­
ment that we lay claim to.”
The Foundation and International
Commemorations will co-host simul­
taneous premieres of the documenta­
ry in 11 major U.S. cities in Febru­
ary. Premiere locations include
Washington. D.C., New York, At­
lanta, Detroit, Philadelphia, Chica-
go. Dallas/Fort Worth. Houston. Se­
attle. Los Angeles and San Fran­
cisco. (Specific locations, dates and
times will be included in future re­
leases).
African-American World War II
veterans and their families will be
guests of honor at the premiers. Lo­
cal civic , political and education lead­
ers in each community and the gener­
al public also will be invited to attend
the premieres.
Ten thousand videotape copies of
the documentary also will be given
free of charge to schools around the
country.
"Our young people need to under­
stand that as a group they have a
vested interest in this history, says
Blatcher. "The experience of the war
belongs to the men and women who
participated, but the history belongs
to all of us.”
The documentary, produced by
C om Tel
P roductions
of
Marlborough. MA. also features ap­
pearances by the Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army General
John Shalikashvili. and retired Gen-
eralColin Powell. Powell talks about
the impact the World War II veterans
had on his own opportunities.
“African Americans—A Legacy of
Patriotism and Valor” will be avail­
able for general viewing following
the February premieres.
Castleberry Named Coors’ Diversity Director
Bill Castleberry, former manager
of diversity, has been promoted to
Director of Diversity Management
at Coors Brewing company.
Castleberry wi II execute and over­
see programs aimed at meeting the
company’s goal of building diversi­
ty, with particular emphasis on those
business strategies and practices im­
pacting the workplace and the mar­
ketplace.
He also will manage the compa­
ny’s Supplier Diversification and
Development Program and monitor
the national African American Cov­
enant and the National Hispanic/Lat-
ino Agreement.
Castleberry joined Coors in Sep­
tember 1994 as manager of diversity.
Prior to joining Coors, he managed
recruitment, employee relations and
training programs for Ohmcda Me­
dia Systems, a subsidiary of the
Brithish Oxygen Corporation Group.
"Bill’s proven leadership skills
Bill Castleberry
will be invaluable as we continue to
develop internal and external com­
munication programs which reinforce
the importance of valuing diversity,”
said John Meadows. Coors’ Director
of Corporate Relations/Diversity
Management.
While serving as a U.S. Air Force
Officer, Castleberry developed and
managed a race relations seminar
that was one of the Defense Depart­
ment’ s first of f icial efforts to address
race relations in a combat support
environment.
The Colonel's 21-year military
career included several key assign­
ments. including human resources
executive officer tor the Joint Chiefs
of Staff at the Pentagon.
Castleberry holds a bachelor’s
degree in political science from Ten­
nessee Slate University and a mas­
ter’s degree in management from
Webster University.
The Albany, Ga., native also is a
graduate of the Industrial College of
the Armed Forces in Washington
and is a National Defense Univeristy
Senior Research Fellow.
He, his wife Katheryn, and two
children live in Aurora, Colo.
P o lic e N ew s
Montavilla graffiti suspect arrested
On Monday, December 16. 1996.
just after midnight. Portland Police-
arrested William K. Kuhn III. and
charged him with Criminal Mis­
chief I. He was observed defacing
properties in the 400 block of SE
81st avenue.
Southeast Precinct-Neighborhood
Response Team members. Deputy
District Attorney Tom Cleary and Of­
ficer Jon Cox became involved in this
case and were able to link William
Kuhn III to at least 60 graffiti crimes in
the Montavilla Area. Kuhn sometimes
working with others, has been very
active in this and several other loca­
tions in the Portland area. SE Precinct
uniform officers. Jimmy Lee and Eric
Torgerson observed and arrested
Kuhn while in the act.
Victims include at least 20 busi­
nesses in the Montavilla area of SE
Portland. The investigation is con­
tinuing and additional charges are
expected. A photo will be available
in the Portland Police Identification
Division office.
Portland Man Pleads Guilty To
Defrauding Unemployment System
Admitting he fraudulently col­
lected more than $7,500 in unem­
ployment benefits. James Norman
of Portland has pled guilty to felony
theft charges in MultnomahCounty
Court.
Norman claimed to have no earn­
ings while he collected a weekly
unemployment benefit of $291 for
27 consecutive weeks in 1994. An
investigation by the Oregon Em­
ployment Departmeni revealed that
Norman worked each of those weeks,
earning a total of $ 13,108.
The investigation by the Employ­
ment Department was triggered by
the agency's cross-match system.
This computerized system compares
social security numbers of individu­
als collecting unemployment bene­
fits with those listed on employers'
quarterly payroll tax reports.
To receive unemployment bene­
fits. a person must be able, available.
and actively seeking work. Also,
any earnings during a period a per­
son is claiming benefits must be
reported. Individuals may earn up
to one-third of their weekly benefit
amounts before benef its are deduct­
ed dollar for dollar.
Norman was sentenced to 24
months probation, during which he
must repay $7,566 to the Employ­
ment to the Employment Depart­
ment.
Chief’s forum presented community awards
At its regularly scheduled meet­
ing on Monday, December 16.1996,
at 9:00 a.m.. the Chief s Forum
presented its community policing
awards The meeting was at the
Justice Center, III SW 2nd. 14th
floor. Room B
The Chief’s Forum developed
the awards in order to acknowledge
citizens, organizations and Police-
Bureau members involved in
strengthening the partnership be­
tween the community and the Po­
lice Bureau through innovative and
cooperati ve problem solvmgefforts
and enhancing Portland's livability
and community safety
These are the categories of
awards: The Nathan Thomas Me­
morial Award (awarded annually,
December), maybe awarded to any
individual for an act of outstanding
performance by which the nominee
demonstrated in great degree, ex­
ceptional communicative accom­
plishments which further the goals
of community; Recipient: Officer
Victoria Wade, who was instrumen­
tal in the creation and implementa­
tion of the Crisis Response Team foi-
inner Northeast Portland; Commu­
nity Policing Problem Solving
Award (award semi-annually, June/
December) may be awarded Io any
individual or group for recognition
of demonstrated creative problem
solving methods and/or techniques
used to aid in the betterment of the
community. Recipients Officers
Jonathan Cox and John Taylor of
the Southeast Neighborhood Re­
sponse Team and Officer Marcia
Barbour of the Northeast Neigh­
borhoods Response Team; Certifi­
cate of Appreciation (awarded
semi-annually. June/Dccember).
Awarded to any individual who di­
rectly aids the community in pro­
moting the community policing ef­
fort in a distinctive way. Recipient:
Marco Bento. Portland Cable Ac­
cess.
For more information, contact
Terri Wallo-Strauss at 823-0258.
’
'
> te
1, 1997 • T he P o r tlan d O bserver
Affirmative Actions opened the
door, talent made them
J ennifer A uwunobi
Growing up in New Orleans in a
home with five girls and no boys, the
Dickerson sisters learned that there
is nothing a girl can't do. "We played
with dolls and trucks,” sid Terri
Dickerson, 39, executive director of
American Women in Radio and Tele­
vision in McLean. VA. "When you
live in a house with all girls, you
don’t have those traditional roles
We had to do every thing including
mowing the lawn,” she said.
Today, the Dickerson girls are all
grown up and each successfully head
mainstream companies and programs
in the Washington, D C.-metropoli­
tan area. They credit their successes
to affirmative action which removed
racial barriers, and their parents who
taught them to never let anyone tell
them they are not worthy to receive
the best.
Terri recalled the first grade when
she and two of her sisters, Lisa and
Patrice, attended Catholic school
during the school’s first year of inte­
gration. "No one wanted us there,
remembered, Terri, "not even the
nuns or priest.” Being so young, rein
said her father-who was once the
Director of the Federal Equal Em­
ployment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC(--explained to them.
Despite the blatant hostility, the
Dickerson girls were at the top of
theirclass. From her Catholic school
experience, Terri learned that "once
you get your foot in the door, talent
and intelligence are gender-and col
or-blind.”
The Dickersons had parents who
“led by example,” recalled Verna,
32. “Success was always embraced
in our home; failure was never an
option,” said Verna, the youngest
sister and senior producer of Special
Projects for Black Entertainment
Television based in Washington,
bv
Chicken
company
changes
name
Atlanta-based American’s Favor­
ite Chicken Company, parent com­
pany of Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits
and Churchs Chicken, announced that
it will change its name to AFC Enter­
prises effective today.
The name change reflects the mat­
uration of the company’s strategic-
direction, including its effort to ex­
pand its existing portfolio of high-
value brands and become the world s
Franchisor of Choice. AfC is seeking
to acquire high value brands to add to
its existing portfolio and has six com­
panies under consideration.
“The adoption of AfC Enterprises
as our name marks another milestone
in the history of our corporation,"
says Frank Belatti, chairman and
CEO. "We are evolving into a fran­
chise company as well as a restaurant
company. We will take the knowl­
edge and experience that we have
gained with our current brands to
leverage our world-class service and
support for our new brands.”
"We have implemented a system-
wide ef fort to improve franchise ser­
vices and procedures and also dem­
onstrate our innovative leadership
and diversity in all areas of franchis­
ing,” says Belatti.
* * *
O n e can always trust to tim e.
In s e r t a w e d g e o f t im e an d
DC.
Their father, the late Walter M
Dickerson, was Director of the EEOC
for 12 years and later worked as
National Field Director to open
EEOC offices in six other states.
Their mother. Verna, was a school
teacher who later worked for Mont­
gomery County Government. They
said their mother was a role model to
them because she attended college
and received a graduate degree dur­
ing a time when affirmative action
didn’t exist.
All of the Dickerson women are
successful because of their parents
example, their individual talents, and
hard work, yet they acknowledge the
role affirmative action played in their
careers. "Affirmative action gave me
the opportunity to show that I had the
talent and ability to do the job." said
Terri, whose organization advocates
for women in the media
Lauri, 33, owner of a child care
business, said affirmative action is
still needed because "raising two
African-American daughters, I want
as many opportunities available to
them as is available to anyone else. I
want my children to see many black
role models. I want to see African-
American doctors when I take them
to the hospital." she said
Of the other Dickerson children.
Lisa 40, is the President of Airports
Management, Inc., and Patrice, 38, is
the Chief of Staff at D.C. General
Hospital.
Verna said she still can’t see where
affirmative action is holding back
non-whites from employment. "Af­
firmative action can play a positive
role in American society,’ said Verna.
All five Dickerson women said
they are "only loo familiar with the
look of surprise when people mis­
take our white colleagues for the
‘boss' in situations. They don’t see
black women as decision-makers and
team leaders. . . White colleagues who
work with us come to learn that we
are in our positions because we are
prepared and capable...Affirmative
action is still necessary and must
continue,” they said.
A consortium of legal women
called Americans for a FairChance.
is fighting to preserve affirmative
action. The Consortium has launched
a public awareness campaign on af­
firmative action and has produced a
nationwide public service announce­
ment that airs on black-owned radio
stations Americans for a FairChance
is comprised of prominent women
from the Lawyers' Committee for
Civil Rights Under Law, the Mexi­
can American Legal Defense and
Educational Fund, the National Asian
Pacific American Legal Consortium,
the NAACP Legal Defense and Ed­
ucational Fund, the National Wom­
en’s Law Center, and the Women's
Legal Defense Fund.
“Affirmative action these days just
makes competitive sense." said Terri,
mother of a 12-year-old son In ap­
plying that to journalism, she said,
"you want to be first, fair and accu­
rate. But there is no way you can be
all of those things with a homoge­
nous staff...Affirmative action caus­
es the industry to cast a wider net to
find a more diverse workforce, she
said.
Lisa. Terri, Patrice, Lauri, and
Verna still talk to each other almost
everyday. “My sisters are my best
friends," said Terri, who is known as
the family “spokesperson”. "We are
diverse ourselves and we learn front
each other,” she said. Judging from
their successes, they also learned from
their father who routinely said, "Don t
eliminate yourself . ..there are enough
people out there trying to do it for
you." Boy did they listen.
T h e most ce rta in sign o f wisdom is continual cheerfulness. H e r
state is lik e that o f things in the regions above tin- m o o n , always
clear and serene.
— Montaigne
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