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*
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POWELL’S BOOKS
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OVER 1 3 3 YEARS...
iv e r s it y
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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
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K aiser
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e n ric h e d
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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
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