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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 19, 1997)
T he P ortland O bserver • M arch 19, 1997 P age A5 Black literary giants, Dumas and Pushkin make new impact by P rof , M c K inley B crt I am very pleased to report that several area high school teachers saw my recent Portland Observer articles on these great men o f letters as an excellent vehicle for acquaint ing youth o f ‘all’ cultures with Afri can involvement in the w orld’s great literature. In addition to mastery o f their craft and a special genius in inspir ing their readers, both Alexander Dumas (father) o f France and Alex ander Pushkin o f Russia possessed just the type o f personalties to cap ture the fancy and admiration o f young minds They did not just write about the turbulent and history-shap ing events of their time, these men were on stage as well, risking life and limb for their convictions. T oday’s crop o f politicians, given to shrewdness to a fault, along with hordes o f would-be leaders with rather tepid temperaments, ‘pale’ into insignificance when compared with the bigger-than-life characters who roamed the European continent in centuries past. Teachers, students and reading public may all be as sured that the seminal contributions o f many more o f these African ge niuses will appear in these pages. As usual, I stand ready to aid in any curriculum design or develop ment o f lesson plans. I may have usefu I inputs as a resu It o f exchanges with readers from varied back grounds, and through the years I am always astonished at the depth and range o f interest o f the public There is as much to be learned here as from any texts or mode of research, some times a documented historical tidbit that has escaped the eager eyes o f the experts Let me cite here the principal works from which I have drawn a great deal o f facts on all three o f the famed members o f the Dumas clan, all named Alexander. Namely the g randfather (N apoleons greatest general), the father (author o f the Count o f Monte Crisco, The Three Musketeers and hundreds o f other novels and plays) and the grandson, who wrote a popular play, “The Lady o f the Camellias”, later made into a renowned opera. A. “Alexander Dumas: Genius o f Life”, Claude Schopp (A.J. Koch translation), Franklin Watts, N.Y., 1988; B “The Titans: The Extraor dinary Lives o f All Three Dumas”, Andre Maurois, Harper & Bros., 1957; C “The Fourth Musketeer: The Life o f Alexander Dumas”, J. Lucas Dubreton (M alda Castelhon D arn to n tra n s la tio n ), C ow ard- McCann Inc. 1928 Second hand bookstores will be your best bet for obtaining these. And we list here some principal sources of information on Alexander Pushkin, the b b ek poet and novelist described as “the fountain head and the epitome o f modern Russian lit erature.” This beloved African son o f Russia is honored throughout the land with cities, parks and museums $4.8 million victim assistance available U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D- Oregon) today announced that O r egon will receive $4.8 million in federal assistance to enhance crime victim services. The money was awarded by the U.S. Department o f Justice to the Victim Compensation Program and the Victims Assistance Program as a part o f the Crime Assistance Grant Program. The two programs comes from the Crime Victims Fund (Fund), which was established by the 1984 Victims o f Crimes Act (VOCA). The funds come from fines, penalty assessments and bond forfeitures from convicted Federal offenders -- not taxpayers. “Our justice system too often for gets about the people who should be its first concern — the victims o f crime. Reimbursing victims with money taken from crim mais is some thing our system should do more of,” said Wyden. The Victims Compensation Pro gram will reimburse victims from crim e-related expenses such as; medical costs, mental health coun seling funeral and burial costs and lost wages or loss o f support. The Victim Assistance Program provides services to crime victims including; crisis intervention, coun seling, emergency shelter, criminal sh elter, crim inal advocacy, and emergency transportation. named in his honor A. “ Russian Stories: A Dual Lan guage Book” Gleb Struve, Dover, 1961; B. “Sex and Race, Vol. I”, J.A. Rogers, (obtain at your local Black Bookstore: “ Reflections in Portland.)Seepp. 1 7 4 ,I75& 218.C . More material on J. A. Roger's book “ W orld’s Great men o f Color, Vol. II” (same source); D. “ Pushkin” Ernest J. Simmons, vintage Books, 1964. “Opera Guide No. 38” published in the U S A. by Riverrun Press Inc., 1170 Broadway, New York, N Y. 10001, 1988. This is one o f a series by the English National Opera and the 96 p ag e b o o k le t d e ta ils Tchaikovsky’s rendering o f Alex ander P ushkin’s novel, “ Eugene Onegin,” into the equally famous opera o f the same name. “Great Black Russian: A Novel” on the Life and Times o f Alexander P ushkin” , John O liver K illens, Wayne State University Press, De troit, 1989. Poet Maya Angelou has this to say about this black, romantic revolutionary writer who was also a realist. “ Killens has given us an A le x a n d e r P ushkin w ho liv es, breathes, loves, laughs, writes po etry and dies; yet, who now belongs to all o f us.” And, o f course, there needs to be the usual citation o f the periodical literature, etc. ance o f Black School Educators. She will share techniques parents can use at home to help their child learn, and discuss ideas o f how parents can be more involved in their child’s school. Parents will learn how to make their child a winner in public education and meet with others from the community who also want to see our schools change and children succeed. This will be the seventh in a series o f workshops designed to help parents improve public educa tion and iheir children’s academic performance. For more information please call 282-1975 ext. 203. Night Swim for Teens eens will get a break from the routine when they sign up for night visit to the North Clackamas Aquatic Park. tn P h . C harles W. F aulkner Dear Dr. Faulkner: I read your recent column about the horrors o f a nervous breakdown. I am having some major emotional problems / d o n ’t know i f I am having a ner vous breakdown because I am not sure what it is Could you provide more information please Ms J., Daytona Beach. FL. Here is the information that you requested: What is a nervous breakdown? A nervous breakdown is an ab normal response o f the mind and body to the circumstances in one’s life. For instance, nearly everyone goes through a period o f grief and unhappiness in regard to the pass ing o f a relative, or the loss o f a job. Crying, loss o f appetite, the in ability to sleep, memory lapses, temper explosions, even thoughts o f suicide are common, normal responses to specific crisis events. These behaviors are usually short term. They eventually come to an end and the individual is able to resume a normal life. The nervous breakdown may be defined as hav ing the opposite characteristics such as unpleasant symptoms, like those mentioned above, for no apparent reason, or such symptoms continu ing and recurring when they should have ended. Long-term presence o f the depressing symptoms. Inability to resume a normal life, even after the crisis event has passed. therapy; consult your physician; talk with your priest, pastor, school gu id- ance counselor; or contact your state psychological association. What methods o f treatment are available? If you are diagnosed as having a nervous breakdown, medicines are sometimes recommended. Your therapist may use any of several modalities or treatment to help you. They include: A. Behavioral therapy. The thera pist attempts to change your behav ior ( not your personality). B. Teaching coping skills. So that you may take immediate measures to counter the symptoms o f a ner vous breakdown. C. Teaching interpersonal skills as a means o f elimination tensions between you and others; and D. Teaching cognitive/behavioral procedures designed to eliminate negative thinking patterns. Some therapies may involve group coun seling Other Facts About a Nervous Breakdown Women tend to be more prone to nervous breakdowns than men (con- sult the American Medical Asso ciation for verification). Women generally endure more marital stress such as sexual and physical abase, and poverty. They also face pres sures associated with raising chil dren, demanding husbands and a tendency to dwell on personal prob lems The statistics about young Mack men are familiar: Homicide is their #1 killer; one fourth are in ja il, on parole, or probation; and their rates of unemployment, teen fatherhood, educational dropout- and death-exceed those o f any other demographic group. Living to Tell About It is the first book to look beyond the statistics at the real lives of most young black 1 men in America today, i Journalist Harrell Hawsey traveled across country, listening to young men talk about their childhoods, relationships with parents and women, sexuality, self-respect, spirituality, and ambitions. The result is a portrait of a generation faring manifold challenges and dilemmas of black manhood-and living to tell about it. State Schools Supt. Norma Paulus and other chief state school officers will meet with President Clinton Monday (March 17) at 1:30 p.m. (eastern time) at the White House. The state school superintendents will be in Washington. D.C. to attend a legislative meeting of the Council ol Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), the national organization which represents the state chiefs. CCSSO arranged the meeting with the President, Vice President Gore and U.S. Education Secre tary Richard Riley. The meeting is expected to include discussion o f the President ’ s “Call to Action for American Education in the 21st Century, particularly on the topics o f benchmarking individual student test results and the use o f learning technologies and telecom munications. Paulus is one o f nine state superintendents who serve on CCSSO ’s board o f directors. Living to Tell About It young Black Men in Amènes Speak Then Piece Darrell Dawsey ANCHO* »00«V POWELL’S BOOKS • 1005 W Burnside, downtown Portlond 503-228-4651 • 8725 SW Cascade Avenue, Beaverton 503-643-3131 M A € W here B usiness A nd T echnology have met for H O N O R S E n c o u r a g e s A N D D OVER 1 3 3 YEARS... iv e r s it y b u s in e s s of C o m p u te r B u s in e s s A d m in is tra tio n individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds. We’re enhancing our A c c o u n tin g K aiser P erm a n e n te is e n ric h e d by the c o n trib u tio n s C o m p u te r O ffic e A d m in is tra tio n workforce to better reflect the people we serve he supervised activity is set Friday, March 7 from 8 p.m. to lidnight. Teens will go by van from Bagley Center, 4100 lomondon, to the aquatic park. Swim time is from 9:15 to 1:15 o.m. Cost is $7. Registration is required by Monday, Apply at our Employement Office, 500 NE Multnomah St., (use first larch 3. complete an on-line application. On-line apps accepted M-F, 8a - 3:30p. he event is sponsored by Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recre- ion program. Chaperones from the city’s Teen Program will xompany the group. Call Johnny Tucker, 696-8558, or ondra Tackett, 892-7053 for details. The nervous breakdown may con tain some or all o f the symptoms that I have mentioned. It is a general physical-emotional breakdown that may differ from person to person. There are two primary causal cat egories o f the nervous breakdown. A life that is characterized by multiply traumatic events which overtax the individual’s ability to cope For in stance, the average person may have the wherewithal to meet and con quer the effects o f a d i vorce, a fam i ly m ember’s loss o f life, the death o f a pet, a financial crisis and the loss o f a job. However, a person may be over whelmed by a 10-year marriage is characterized by constant spousal abuse, multiple loss o f family mem bers or friends in an automobile accident, a financial collapse which results in the loss o f possessions such as automobile and house, the inability to find a compatible mate, the inability to get a decent job, and flunking out o f school. These or similar events may push some people into a condition whereby they feel that life is not worth living and they contemplate suicide. The second major cause o f a ner vous breakdown is a chemical im balance in the victim ’s body or brain which causes a physiological distur bance How can one obtain professional help? Get a recommendation from a friend who is presently involved in Paulus To Meet with President Clinton Head Start Brings National Speaker Albina Head is hosting quest :aker Dr. Carolyn Reedom, award ining principal from Las Vegas, vada, Thursday, March 20, 1997, 0 p.m. at Lutheran Family Com- nity Center4219 NE Martin Luther ig, Jr. Blvd. Child care provided. Dr Reedom is a 27 year veteran cher and administrator, named 89 National Distinguished Prin- al by the U.S. Department o f Edu- ion and National Association o f imentary School Principals, and 1989 recipient o f the Outstand- ; Elementary School Administra- presented by the Las Vegas Alli Coping: Understanding a nervous breakdown Floor, Grand Avenue entrance) Portland, OR 97232. Or, call (503) 813-4700. Before being considered as an applicant, candidates are required to TECHNOLOGY C o m p u te r E le c tr o n ic s T e c h n o lo g y 6 2 5 S. W . B ro a d w a y 2nd F lo o r * P o rtla n d 800-441-6083 h ttp ://w w w .h e a ld .e d u Call Now... Class Size Limited. O n e -N o v e ll T ra in in g if Heald College KAISER PERMANENTE EUtthUshcd 186.1 Oregon • California • Hawaii An Equal Opportunity Employer I
