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