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
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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
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