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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 2004)
rebrW 0 4 .2004___________________ ) B lack H istory M onth Living African-American History /4s African-American women in the histori cally white Oregon Senate, Margaret Carter, D-Portland (from left), Avel Gordly, D- Portland and Jackie Winters, R-Salem, know they have made history. photos by M ark W ashington / T he P ortland O bserver continued from Front that have historically not had a voice are repre sented in the Legislature.” Northeast and southeast Portland residents elected Gordly in 1996, after she served three terms in the House of Representatives. As a senior member o f state government, Gordly is widely known for introducing a mea sure in the 2001 session, eliminating the remain ing white supremacist exclusionary language from the Oregon Constitution. She was instrumental in inserting racial- and gender-based considerations in the prescription drug bulk-purchasing bill, which increases access to medication to the sick and needy. Gordly has resisted attempts to reduce the state education budget; she has sponsored legis lation supporting equal rights for agricultural industry workers under Bureau of Labor stan dards, and leads statewide efforts to hold Oregon schools accountable for multicultural curriculum Americans vote Democratic, Winters says pi geonholing her and other African Americans into a party is disenfranchising. She remarked that many notable civil rights leaders have been Republicans. Winters was ejected to the Senate representing Salem in 2002. She had previously served as State Representative since 1998. Winters is the first African-American Republican elected to a state office in Oregon. Now Winters has her sites set on the Con gress, in a hotly contested race, where she will face off with the incumbent if she wins the May primary. “I’m very confident about the election, when you think that I was already elected in this community,” said Winters, whose mostly-white district lacks in cultural diversity when compared to inner north and northeast Portland. “People tend to think you have to be elected by blacks and that’s a misconception.” Carter added, “I think it says something about CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH "New Orleans May Have Been Hosting The Ninth Annual Essence Festival During The July 4th Weekend, but the Place To Be July 3rd was Los Angeles 'House O f Blues(to see the Raphael Saadiq Show )’. ” — Billboard RAPHAEL SAADIQ All Hits At The House O f Blues $ 1322 2 CD Set EASTSIDE 3158 E. BURNSIDE 503-231-8926 Pookie Entertainment 13 Hki M IL L E N N IU M www.musicmillenium.com Offer Good Thru 2-29-04 NORTHWEST 801NW23RD 503-248-0163 **A II classes are free of charge! z & h c /x \ African American Health Coalition, Inc. Presents for your health, Wellness W ithin REACH Activity Calendar Aerobics Mallory Ave. Christian Church Salsa Salvation Arm y M, W, F, 6-7am , Pierce; 5:30-6:20pm , Granville; 6:30-7;30pm , Nickerson M, 6:30-7:30pm , Henry Humboldt Elementary Stretching/Body Sculpting M att Dishman T. Th. 6-7pm, Keller T, Th, 7-8am , Lois Low Impact Aerobics Daniel’s Memorial Church T, 7:15-8:15pm. Granville S in. Margaret Carter, D-Portland, is deeply committed to her faith and her family o f nine children, 2 3 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was the only black woman in the Oregon L ‘gislative Assembly when first elected to the State House o f Representatives in 1984. ai d policy. Considering herself an “independent law- n aker,” Gordly has defied party politicking by w arking with Winters, Smith and other Republi cs n leaders on various projects. | “In politics, there are no permanent friends and np permanent enemies; just permanent issues and there are always people you can work with for the good of your citizens,” said Gordly. Some recent collaboration with Winters and Carter include the Human Services and Ways and Means committees. * “We definitely support each other’s work. We l^nd a dimension of moral and emotional support to each other and the other women in the Cham ber as well,” she said. Winters came to Portland by way of Vanport, as did so many other African-American families, during World War II. She was educated in the Portland Public School district and graduated from Jefferson High School. “I grew up very independent.” she said. “I prefer to do things myself than have other people do things for me.” Those ideals shaped the direction of Winters’ career as a Republican lawmaker. Although an estimated 80 percent of African Oregon’s investment in human capital. If you have the passion, commitment and show dedica tion, then you have a level o f supporters, regard less of the color of their skin.” F or W in ters, c reatin g jo b s , affo rd ab le healthcare and fighting over-regulation are among her major issues. “Congress plays a part in that,” she said. Winters says she will remain is the Senate if she loses the Congressional election in Novem ber. Besides being an accomplished community and state leader. Winters is a small business owner. In 1985 she opened Jackie’s Ribs, which has since expended to three restaurants and three franchises. One of her most emotional accomplishments was when a Jackie’s Ribs opened on Southwest Broadway in Portland. She said the experience brought her to tears. “Grow ing up in Portland, we couldn’t go into some o f the restaurants on that street," said W inters. “Never in our wildest dream s as kids did we think w e’d be where we are. This is extrem ely significant to us. W hen that busi ness opened, I thought, ‘Yes we can, yes we d id .’” Tai Chi Salvation Arm y W, 6:30-7:30pm . Lyles W ater A erobics (Contact AAHC) Salvation Arm y M att Dishman Walking Group Peninsula Park Sa, 12:30pm , Woods African Dance M att Dishman W eight Mgnt./Conditioning U. of Portland Indoor Track Sa, 10-1 lam , Addo T, Th, 9 - 1 Oam, Hasan Body Conditioning W ild Oats Market Yoga W ild Oats Market Sa, 9 :3 0 -10:10am, Nickerson T, Th, 7:30-8:30pm , O’Rourke Daniel’s Memorial Church. 12th & Killingsworth Humboldt Elementary. 4915 N Gantenbein Mallory Avenue Christian Church (Gym). 126 NE Alberta Matt Dishman, 77 NE Knott Peninsula Park, 700 N Portland Salvation Atmy, S32S N Williams U. of Portland Indoor Track, S00 N W illam ette Wild Oats Market. 3S3S NE ISth “ Must be 21 or older to participate Please contact AAHC before showing up to the first class and for more information at 5 0 3 -4 1 3 -1 8 5 0 or kdem psey@ aahc-portland org. Please receive approval from your doctor before beginning exercise class. R a c ia l a n d E th n ic A p p ro a c h « « to C o m m u n ity H a a lth A Proflram ot the African American Health CoaWion. Inc Sponsored by ihe Center, for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC ) Contact AAHC at 503-413-1850 or visit our web site at www.aahc-pordand.org
