Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 2002)
Page A 7 May 15,2002 Lamar “Dewayne" Gibson adjusts the shelves one last time at Emmanuel Temple's Renaissance Market. Gibson said employment at the market helped him turn his life around. photo by D avid P lechi / T he P ortland O bserver Ceasefire Oregon Collects Guns continued from Front T he site had co llected 41 guns by noon. A ll the guns w ill h a v e s e ria l n u m b e rs ch ecked to see if they w ere stolen o r som ehow involved in a crim e. If the gun turns up a red flag, it is set aside as evid en ce and catalo g ed by P ortland Police. O therw ise, all guns are destroyed. O ne young m an w ho saw the co llectio n as he d rove by, cam e back later to turn in a rifle and a shotgun. H e and his w ife ju s t had a baby and he d id n ’t w ant the guns in the house anym ore. “ I’ve been w anting to do it fo r a w h ile," he said. A c c o rd in g to C e a se fire , one in four A m erican hom es co ntain at least on handgun, and handguns kill ld c h ild re n every day. School, Neighborhood Launch Annual Multi-Cultural Fair Renaissance Market to Close continued from Front acq u ire co m m ercial lots on N orth A lbina, K illin g sw o rth and Jessup; and several hom es on N orth K erby, K illingsw orth C ourt, A lbina and M ississippi. The process has raised ques tions about the sensitivity of cam pus policies and the school’s practice o f acquiring properties for cam pus expansion. B ish o p Sam uel Irv in g , se n io r p a sto r o f the C h ristian L ife C h ristian C enter, an A fri can A m erican c h u rch a d ja cent to the co lleg e on N orth A lbina, said the school treated his co n g reg atio n unfairly. Irv ing e v en tu ally sold th e p ro p erty to PC C and is now in the pro cess o f m oving. He said the c h u rch “was forced to accept less than we w anted.” Executive Dean o f the C as ca d e C a m p u s, D r. M ild red O llee, says the school has been sensitive to the concerns o f the com m unity. She cites four forum s at the college where neighbors were invited to com e and voice their concerns and take an active part in the design o f the cam pus. She claim s com m unity Grocers to Unified Grocers. “W e w ere hurting a little and starting to turn things around, then we ran into the college,” W ells said He explained that the store w ould have needed a cash infu sion from A lbina Bank to stay We were hurting a little and starting to turn things around, then we ran into the college — Bishop A. A. Wells, Emmanuel Temple Church. view s have influenced policy. “W e try to be good neigh bors,” Ollee said. “W e see our selves as part o f the com m u nity.” W ells admits that his market has struggled economically. He blames recent loses on switching from a problematic Associated on its feet and, “w ould have stayed open,” but in light of lagging discussions w ith the college, that m oney proved un tim ely and difficult to secure. W hen the market opened its doors in 1996, W ells says he was unaw are o f any desire of PCC to acquire the property. Many o f the em ployees that make up the Renaissance M ar ket come from troubled back grounds. S to re M anger R ic h M u rc h in s o n sp o k e o f th e R enaissances’ long-term vision as a training hub for the disad vantaged. “M ost em ployers," M urchin son said, “don’t w ant to give so m e o n e a se c o n d c h a n c e . H ere, I’ve seen lives turned com pletely around.” One such life i s that o f L am ar “D ew ayne” Gibson. G ibson cam e to the store a lm o st fo u r y e a rs ago. H e c o u ld n ’t keep a jo b and w as involved w ith gangs and drugs. He d escribes the R enaissance as “a relief from that lifesty le.” M u rc h in s o n n o w c a lls G ibson his “right hand m an.” “ T h a t’s w h a t I ’m m o st proud o f,” M uchinson said. “Nobody else took the tim e to talk.” Black Author Leads Discussion on N-Word world folk, zydeco, Native- A m erican flute, and gospel hip hop. A G randfathers Rib- O ff Challenge will offer deli cious barbecue from a host of Portland vendors com peting for tastiest ribs as selected by a blind jury. O ther activities Saturday in clude an indotir children’s the ater by the H igher Stages Arts A cadem y, skateboard dem os by the D epartm ent o f Skate board, a bug zoo exhibit by the O regon Zoo, and a trike race for anyone w ho can sit on a tricycle race, sponsored by the Early H ead Start Fam ily Center. In addition, there will be local crafts and a com m unity garage sale offering unique and inexpensive treasures. B usinesses along the newly revitalized Mississippi Avenue will show off the restaurants, florists and retail shops re cently remodeled in this north Portland neighborhood. For more inform ation, con tact M issy Schachner at 503- 916-6171 The Blacte. C u ltu ra L A ffa ir s dotted ii/uvltes you tojoLiAz us b e c a u se w e u n d e rsta n d the A black educator and author, boundaries of the term. The unof Randall Kennedy will be discuss ficial rule maintains that it is ac ing the provocative subject of his ceptable for no other than Afri latest book entitled “nigger: The can-Americans to comfortably Strange Career of a Troublesome use the term. This can be described W ord,” on Friday, May 17 at 5 as a mechanism for empowerment. p.m. in Hoffman Hall at Portland Taking a term that was used to State University. devalue what you represent, then In his book, Kennedy, a pro neutralizing its negative meaning fessor at Harvard Law School, to symbolize support and camara dicusses the several complexities derie created freedom, in a sense. associated with the “N-word.” So who is right in this debate? He chronicles the term by cit Randall Kennedy suggests that ing how its use and intent has the “N-word” is evolved w ithin usable by any Am erican soci X He chronicles the one. He b e ety, which has ul term by citing how its lieves is a word, timately led to a just like all oth use and intent has p a ssio n a te d e ers, in the En bate o v er who evolved within glish language. has the right to American society... A ccording to use the term, if him .ifw eareto a n y o n e. T h is examine and analyze the root of question challenges one of the race relations, we cannot ignore most fundamental American rights the most blatant reminder of the - freedom of speech. Nonethe volatile climate in which the word less, African Americans across has its origin. Kennedy explains the country seem to be unified this concept through an example about the idea of exclusively own using the Holocaust. As he states, ing the rights to use the word. how can one explore and ulti From the courtrooms of the le mately learn from this horrific event gal justice system to the lyrics of without coming face to face with hip-hop songs, the “N-word” has the most graphic and unsettling an undeniable influence on the images that characterized that lives of many Americans, and period. Here we are, in the 21” rightly so. Nigger is the definitive century, and the “N-word” still term of the oppression African- possesses the power to aggra Americans have been subjected vate some peoples’ comfort levek to ever since the torturous boat This is one word that has the rides of the middle passage. The potential to ignite fury great energy exuded from the term enough to cause racial divide fiercely articulates the relation needs to be discussed and ana between white privilege and the lyzed. Y oung people should attempt to rape a people of its com m unicate with the elders so culture and identity. But we seem th at u n d erstan ding can take to have become de sensitized from place. Black people and w hite the fatalistic intent of which the people need to engage in dia word was bom. logue so that tolerance and ac Modem society, particularly ceptance will em erge. The co n young and middle age African- versation dealing with the “N- Americans, have embraced the “N- w ord” is critical to race relations word” within their intimate circle and intra-race relations because of companions. We justify using its historical context lim its the the term by making it a word that opportunity for us to grow as a binds, rather than a word that community. breaks. There is merit in this stance I The first annual Portland Multi-Cultural Festival, Thurs day, M ay 16 through Satur day, M ay 18, will celebrate Boise-Eliot Elementary School and historic North M ississippi Avenue with live music, multi cultural food and children’s activities. The school is celebrating its 75th anniversary and more than 20 years as a strong m ulti cultural magnet school. Thursday activities at the school located at 630 N. Fre m o n t in c lu d e a m o rn in g storybook parade. M ulti-cul tural kid-friendly activities are scheduled after school, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m „ Friday night events will in augurate the new ly opened Mississippi Rising Ballroom at M ississippi and Shaver with a com m unity talent show and outdoor movie starting at 7 p.m . O n Saturday, M ississippi Avenue features a main stage with entertainm ent scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m ., to in clude India rock, gospel jazz, Randall Kennedy Professor, Harvard Law School Author ofu nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word” nigger Friday, May 17th J/.w. Author o f "Race, Crime and the Law " Robert F. Kennedy Book Award Talk begins at 5:00 PM _ ....... Portland State University, Hoffman Hall (On campus, near Community Ree. Field) Talking about the A W T ! ♦ W ho is allowed to use the term, if anyone? ♦ How does the “Nword” influence the legal justice system? ♦ Does the word have the same meaning today as it did during racial segregation? ReflecMeni Beefcttere, Ipeebevt Beard, Office ef t Indent A ffe ln , For m ore Inform ation call SO3.72S.566O I f
