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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2002)
www.portlandobserver.com Comm itted to Cultural Diversity November 06. 2002 XHI tc ^lortíanh (©bscrüer SECTION ommunity a le n d a r C Adopt a Pet gets a community service boost The Oregon Humane Society is extending its outreach efforts to several area pet stores this month. Help the Humane Soci ety bring homeless pets into the community, call 503-285- 7722, extension 204 for more information. Computer Help for Seniors Nike employees Ken Reed (left) and Dexter Reed Multnomah County Library will expand its Cyber Seniors classes to six libraries throughout the Portland area in November and December. The classes are de signed for senior citizens with little or no computer experience and are offered free o f charge. adjust a bicycle needing repairs at the Community Cycling Center on Northeast Alberta. The bicycle is one of a thousand bikes that will be given away to needy Veterans Day Parade One o f largest Veteran’s Day parades on the W est Coast will be held at the Historic Reserve in Vancouver on Saturday, Nov. 9. The parade will include more than 100 military, veteran and civic organizations with more than 2,500 participants. It be gins at 11 a.m., departing from E vergreen B oulevard, pro ceeding to Main and then west on E ighth S treet to E sther Short Park. kids during the cycling center's holiday bike drive. The Nike workers were among 800 Nike employees who got involved in community service projects last Wednesday at 34 different sites. photo by Columbia Villa Plans Shared Members of the public are in vited to attend a meeting to discuss the preliminary reloca tion survey findings on Colum bia Villa residents and the new design plans for the site. A meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12 will begin at 5:45 p.m. at the C olum bia Villa Community Room, 8920 N. Woolsey Ave. Call 503-802-8522 for more in formation. Killingsworth Street Plans Addressed Over 500community members have identified areas of North Killingsworth between Inter state and Williams in need of street lights, better road cross ings, curb ramps, trees, traffic signs, bike parking, trash con tainers and bus service. A pub lic open house for the project will be held Thursday, Nov. 14 from 6 p.m. to9 p.m. at the North Portland Branch Library, 512 N. Killingsworth. For.more infor- mation.call 503-823-7238. NMMMMMNNM Students Petition School Board to Encourage Racial Sensitivity Students say reading Huck Finn creates racial tension and discomfort in white classrooms (AP) — Students who want teachers to take sensitivity training before teaching “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” have pre sented O regon’s largest school district with a petition on the issue. The students, led by Charles McGee and Johnnie Williams Jr., gave the Portland School Board the 260-signature petition last Mon day night. They say they are angry that the board dismissed the issue earlier this month when board member Derry Jackson asked that the book be removed from reading lists. Mark Tw ain’s 19th-century novel about the adventures of a white boy and a runaway slave uses racial slurs more than 200 times. Williams, a Lincoln High junior who is black, objected to the slurs and refused to read the book in class. He said it made him uncomfortable as a student in a predomi nantly white school, and Jackson took that concern to the school board. The students do not want to ban the book, but say te a c h e rs would handle the racist passages better if they had sensitivity train ing. W illiams’ ob jections to the novel prompted McGee, who is also hlack, to poll students about their experiences discussing racial issues in class rooms. McGee sent petitions to Benson, Franklin, Grant, Jefferson and Lincoln high schools asking the school board to review how certain materials create racial tensions in classrooms. “You all clearly stated that you felt that this issue was about one student,” said McGee, ajunior at Franklin High in Southeast Portland. "Now I hope you have realized it’s about every student in this district.” M onday night, Williams choked up while telling the board why he felt uncomfortable discussing mate rial in “Huckleberry Finn” in class. Williams read an alternate book on baseball legend Jackie Robinson in the library while his class mates studied "Huckleberry Finn.” “You have to be African American to understand what w e've been through,” he You have to be African American to understand what we 've been through - Johnnie Williams Jr., Lincoln High Junior. Thanksgiving at Kennedy School told the school board. McGee asked the board to revive the African American Baseline Essays, a series o f training guides developed by Portland educators during desegregation efforts in the 1980s. The essays cover the contribu tions of blacks in science, language arts and other disciplines, said Carolyn Leonard, com pliance officer for Portland Public Schools. The essays have been challenged for their authenticity, but have been used by teachers around the world. In Portland, they have sat mostly dormant for years, she said. Lolenzo Poe, the board’s vice chairman, pledged that the students’ concerns would not get lost in school district bureaucracy. “I think it’s OK to have us feel uncomfort able,” Poe said. “I will push us not to let this die.” Muslim Advisory Council McMenamins welcomes friends and families for a traditional Thanksgiving D inner buffet from 1 p.m. to7p.m . at Kennedy School at 5736 N.E. 33rd. The menu features chipolte pepper, pesto and traditional develed eggs, maple baked ham with ho n ey -b eer m ustard, herb- roasted turkey breast, baked yams with Jonathan apples and brown sugar glaze, traditional sage stuffing and fresh baked pum pkin pie w ith w hipped cream. Forreservations,call503- 249-3983. Council formed to improve police relations (AP) — Portland Police Chief Mark and whether to open meetings to the pub Kroeker met with Muslim leaders Monday lic. Muslim leaders say they are anxious to to create an advisory board aimed at im proving relations between police and have direct access to police. “We want to educate our community Muslims. The council formation comes at a time about the role of law enforcement, and when the Portland Police Bureau is being educate law enforcement about Muslims," criticized by Muslims and civil rights ac said Wajdi Saiid, executive director of the tivists of leading a witch hunt for al-Qaida Muslim Educational Trust. One of the first topics will be Ramadan. members. Since the Sept. 11 attacks, seven w h ich b eg in s M uslim s with W ednesday, Portland links sa id A laa have been ar Abunijem, presi rested by the dent o f the Is FBI Joint Ter lamic Center of ro rism T ask Portland. Force, in which M uslims b e Portland police lieve Ram adan officers partici — Wajdi Saiid, executive director of the was the month in pate. Muslim Educational Trust J which God be “We are go gan to reveal the ing to get criti cism no matter what," Kroeker said. "But Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. For a the council will provide a chance for dia month, Muslims fast from sunrise to sun set to stimulate reflection on God and their logue.” The M uslim /A rab Police Advisory own spiritual values. Abunijem says when police officers Council will be similar to other advisory councils for sexual minorities, Hispanics, deal with Muslims this month they should and blacks. Kroeker said Muslim council remember that fasting can make them irri- members will decide the content of the continued on page B5 meetings, how often they meet with police We want to educate our community about the role of law enforcement, and educate law enforcement about Muslims. Buy Green at Holiday Gift Fair The ReDirect Guide Business Association and the Students of the Environmental Middle School will host an event where the public can purchase gifts that are ecologically wise, so cially responsible and health oriented. The event will be held at the E nvironm ental M iddle School, 2421 SE O r ange S t.from 10a.m. to5 p.m. on S aturday, Nov. 16. For in form ation on hosting a booth or sponsoring a low -incom e child, call 503-231-4848. M ark W ashington / Tilt: P ortland O bserver Following Dreams to the Top Hometown hero A.C. Green makes his introduction on stage to hundreds of fans at New Beginnings Christian Center Thursday evening. "It's great to be back in Portland." Green said. The former Benson High School graduate. Oregon State University standout and NBA superstar encouraged parishioners to keep their faith in Christ as they follow their dreams to the top. photo by D avid P i . ei hi TT he P ortland O bserver i
