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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 16, 2003)
July 16. 2003 (Efye -pnrtlanh (©bseruer Page A 3 A Lesson in Diversity Young woman was both student and teacher at West Linn ■v Ro.\ W eber T he P ortland O bserver Her tall, slender frame was any thing but foreboding. Her large brown soft eyes and big friendly smile told me Brittinie Harper was a young woman with a mission. She was not a typical 18 year old. While spending her senior year at West Linn High School, Harper was both student and teacher. Her mission was to teach a group o f students and staff what it was to be African American. One o f only five black students in her class, she was alarmed at the lack o f knowledge on the part o f both her classmates and teachers regarding black history in America. After asking several students and staff members what the NAACP (National Association for the Ad vancem ent o f C olored People) meant, she was surprised that only one person, a teacher, knew what the initials meant and what the group stood for. Armed with this. Harper wrote a proposal to help staff and students learn more about African-Ameri can people and their history. Al though the school president backed the proposal and the principal ini tially called for a group discussion on the idea, the meeting was never held. That did not stop this six-foot one-inch lover o f the arts, music and journalism. Harper pressed on, insisting that the school do more than a light brush-over on slavery during February’s Black History Month celebration. Harper said after she and her classm ates w ere briefly taught about “slavery, Zimbabwe, zebras, and the hot African sun,” she chal lenged the school to go deeper into the “American” African people and “not, to concentrate so much on slavery,” stating that her people were much more than former slaves. Any history book will prove this true. African Americans helped build this country to become what it is today. Students need to be given the opportunity to read about it. Their exposure to the scores o f black heroes in Europe, Africa, and the Americas would help students not only understand the important role o f African Americans, but also to focus on the need for diversity and equality throughout the world. As part o f her conquest. Harper spent two days at Jefferson High School, four days at Parkrose High and som e tim e in New York City. She w as also given a “ M ak ing a D ifference” project and chose reverse-racism , looking at prejudices black A m ericans have towards the w hite population. She pointed out that much o f the prob lem com es from jealo u sy and the difference in educational oppor tunities. Harper also wrote a play titled “Tomorrow,” for which won first Kendra James Forum Airs Portland C able A ccess is air- t ing the entirety o f the K endra Jam es C o m m u n ity F orum on CityN et30. The July 1 m eeting, nearly five hours long, w ill air at 1:30 p.m. W ednesday, July 16; 8:30 p.m. Sunday, July 20; 6 p.m. M onday, July 21; 11:30a.m .T uesday, July 22; and 5 p.m . W ednesday, July 23. The forum addressed the po lice shooting o f K endra Jam es on M ay 5 during a traffic stop on North Skidm ore Street. R epresentatives from the po lice d e p a rtm e n t an d d is tric t atto rn ey ’s office presented in form ation and answ ered q u es tions during the public event at M ount O livet B aptist C hurch in North Portland. Walk for Justice Saturday On Saturday, July 19, St. Andrew Legal Clinic will hold its 4lh annual Walk for Justice. The five-mile trek will begin at 10 a.m. starting at the Alberta Street Public House, 1036 N.E. Alberta St. There will be a celebration there following the walk with awards, prizes andjive music. . • ' All proceeds from the event go directly towards helping low- income families, with family law needs, coming to St. Andrew Legal Clinic for legal assistance. To participate in the Walk for Justice, there is a $25 registration fee, but the fee is waived for those who raise $75 or more in pledges. For more information, call 503-281-1500 extension 24. Brittinie Harper was alarmed at the lack o f African American history at her mostly white school. place in the Oregon Thespian Con each o f the kids grow up, they are ference competition. taking turns helping out at their Harper comes from a large and father’s southwest Portland insur close-knit family, headed by her ance company. mom who is her best friend and her Heading o ff this fall to the Uni dad, Michael Harper, a former Port versity ofOregon, Brittinie plans to land Trail Blazer and NBA star. As work towards a degree in journal ism, focusing on media electronics. Her dream job would be working for MTV. Based on her drive, talent, and deep commitment to her causes, there is a good chance Brittinie Harper will go exactly where she wants to. Ross Leads Affirmative Action Post Peggy Ross G o v e rn o r K u lo n g o sk i has named Peggy C. Ross to the post o f Directorof the Officeof Affirmative Action. “ Peggy brings extensive experi ence in working with both public and private-sector organizations to promote diversity and inclusive ness in the workplace,” Kulongoski said. “She will help build com mu nity partnerships to further the im portant work o f this department.” The A frican American Chamber ofCom m erce extended a congratu lations to Ross and Kulongoski for the appointment. Ross is the principal o f P.C. Ross Group, a firm specializing in business developm ent, diversity training, and outreach services, which she founded in 1994. She is also a consultant to the O ffice o f M inority, W om en & E m erging Small Businesses and a co n tin u ing education instructor at P o rt land Com m unity C ollege. She worked previously w ith the O r egon A ssociation o f M inority Entrepreneurs. Ross studied business adm inis tration and psychology at Nebraska Wesleyan University and Portland State University. Healthy Choices Give Your Day a Boost by O livia R amos W hat’s your excuse for skip ping breakfast? “I don’t have time,” “ I’m fine with coffee,” or “I ’m not,hungty when I get qp” are all excuses licensed dietitian Valerie Edwards hears often. “It’s hard when you don’t usu ally eat a morning meal to make it part o f your daily routine,” says Edwards, a dietitian with Provi dence Portland Medical Center. “But if you keep experimenting and find out what works best, you’ll enjoy the many benefits from eat ing a healthy breakfast.” According to the American Di etetic Association, eating break fast can help you control weight, think clearer and helplowercholes- terol, which reduces the risk ofheart disease. Think y o u ’re cu ttin g calo ries by s k ip p i n g b re a k fa s t? C h an ces a te y o u ’ll be sta rv e d by lunch, w h ich m ay lead you to o v ere at la te r in the day. “ B rea k fast h elp s ju m p s ta rt y o u r m e tab o lism in th e m o rn in g ,” say s E dw ards. “N o rm ally , y pft’re m o re ac tiv e d u rin g the d ay , an d th e c a lo rie s y o u c o n sum e in the m o rn in g w ill burn o f f m ore q u ic k ly than th o se you eat la ter w hen y o u r body ten d s to be re s tin g .” If you’re taste buds don’t crave traditional breakfast foods, try something different. Vegetables, salsa and low-fat shredded cheese wrapped in a tortilla or even left over veggie pizza can give you the right combination o f nutrients to start your day. Edwards suggests if your ex cuse for skipping breakfast is lack o f time, try some simple grab and go breakfast items like a handful o f nuts, a fruit cup, a small carton o f skim milk, whole-grain cereals, hard- boiled eggs or peanut butter on wheat toast. 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Talk to one of our knowledgeable bankers and see how, together, we can help local schools. •Offer expires 9/13/2003, and may not be com bined w ith any other offer Checking account must remain open through and receive at least one qualifying Direct Deposit by 12/12/2003 to qualify Bill Pay must be established through wellsfargospecial com, enter keyw ord 'S chod s,' and one bill must be paid by 10/12/2003 to qualify Donations w ill be paid to the public school district where the Wells Fargo office at which the account is maintained is located, or if the account is not assigned to a specific Wells Fargo office, to a public school district at the bank's discretion Donations w ill be made in the name o f the local WWIs Fargo Bank, and customers may not claim any portion as a charitable deduction for tax purposes See banker for details C 2003 Wells Fargo Banks All rights reserved Members FOIC À I A