Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, February 12, 2003, Page 8, Image 8

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    Pa&
cA8__________Jlortlanb (Bbseruer celebrates Black History Month
February 12.2003
B lack H istoru
M onth
Paul Lawrence Dunbar: The
son o f form er slaves, this poet
and writer attended public
schools, worked as an elevator
operator, and spent most o f his
life in Dayton, Ohio.
We recognize and appreciate
all of our heroes, big and small
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon celebrates
the legacy of Dr. M a rtin Luther King, Jr.
R p c rp n c p
BlueCross BlueShield
o f Oregon
For your health
An Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover star in “Good Fences" the story of an upwardly mobile African
American couple.
We must
accept finite
r u r e m iim im ir a iill
but we must
never lose infinite
hope.”
TV Movies Celebrate
Black History Month
continued
from A6
plays Tom, an attorney who is determined to
“end the Colored man’s losing streak.”
When he takes on and successfully wins a
high-profile case by defending a white man who
set some black vagrants on fire, he is thrust into
the limelight and moves from a mixed lower
income town to the wealthy, white enclave of
Greenwich, Conn.
The Black Filmmaker Showcase was de­
signed several years ago to show Showtimes’s
commitment to develop and support the up-and-
coming African American filmmakers.
This year’s winner, “Unjust Cause” is the
story of a m an’s death at the hands of overzeal-
ous police officers as told through the spoken
word poetry of his girlfriend.
The filmmaker showcase began airing this
week and will repeat through the month.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)
Though he suffered through disappointments. Dr. M artin Luther King's
legacy to us all is the invaluable gift o f hope. N W Natural proudly stands with
our African American com m unity in celebrating Mack History Month.
Advertise in
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is
pleased to celebrate February 2003 as African
American History Month.
“During this month, we celebrate the many
achievements and contributions made by Afri­
can Americans throughout our nation’s ex­
traordinary history,” said Commission Chair­
person Mary Frances Berry. “We are a better
nation because of our diverse and multicultural
peoples, and we are stronger when we recog­
nize and celebrate that diversity.”
African American History Month had its
genesis in 1926, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson,
under the auspices o f the Association for the
Study of Negro Life and History, successfully
lobbied for the creation of a “Negro History
Week" to promote awareness of the achieve­
ments of African and African American peoples.
The Week was expanded to Black History
Month in 1976.
The Commission has been at the forefront of
promoting African American causes since its
founding in 1957.
“Our recent work on voting irregularities in
Florida and the inadequacy of percentage plans
as a replacement for affirmative action pro­
grams in colleges and universities continues the
commission' s contributions to the nation’s pub­
lic policy discussion, a history that has earned
the Commission the title of the ’Governmental
Conscience of the Nation' on civil rights mat­
ters,” Berry said.
She said “the commission is dedicated to the
promise of an America that overcomes the
burdens of its past and helps all its people
achieve a better tomorrow.”
Portland Observer call 503.388.0033 or email: ads@portlandobserver.eom