February 25. 2004 ______________ B lack H istory M onth Slavery Past Confronted in California Man sheds light on controversial history (AP) — Californians like to think of their state as a free­ wheeling, tolerant place, one that entered the Union back in 1850 unbesmirched by the stain of slavery. But Joe Moore says there’s just one problem with that sunny vision of the past — it isn’t true. Though it was admitted to the Union as a “free state,” slavery still existed in 1850s California, and Moore is leading a project to shed light on its contradictory history. Hisproofisinprint:inan 1852 ad announcing the public auc­ tion of a black man valued at $300; newspaper accounts of fugitive slaves who were ar­ rested; and, county records cer­ tifying slaves bought their free­ dom from their owners. Moore and a team of re­ searchers have uncovered these and other, often overlooked pieces of California’s past after months of digging through the archives of museums, historical societies and libraries across the state. “We believe this is one of America’s lost stories,” said Guy Washington, regional coordina- torforthe National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom project, who has worked closely with Moore. “It doesn’t fit our image of California as the land of free­ dom and opportunity, a place where everyone can go and have Mary Ann Carlton-Wyatt shows pages from her family Bible, dating to the late 1800s, to Joe Moore at the campus library of California State University in Sacramento. a new start. W e’re not comfort­ able with that part of our his­ tory,” he said. Moore and researchers at California State University, Sac­ ramento have been converting the documents into digital files, and plan to post them on the Internet. When completed, the new online archive will provide insight into the challenges blacks faced in California of the 1800s. “The story that’s being told is the diversity and richness and the determination of a small com­ munity in the 19th century,” said Shirley Ann Wilson Moore, a history professorat Sacramento State who is supervising student researchers and is married to Joe Moore. After gold was discovered near Sutter’s Fort in 1848, blacks joined a stampede of others mi­ grating West, hoping to strike it rich. For those early black pio­ neers, the state’s policies ap­ peared promising. California’s first constitution, adopted in 1849, dictated that: “Neithersla- very, nor involuntary servitude. unless for the punishment of crimes, shall ever be tolerated in this State.” A year later, under the Compromise of 1850, Cali­ fornia was admitted to the Union as a free state. For blacks and others, Cali­ fornia was “a place to come and reinvent themselves,” Shirley M oore said. “ For A frican- Americans, California repre­ sented a place where, at least legally, slavery did not exist.” But many found California a tar cry from the land of oppor­ tunity they’d envisioned. Offi­ cials were unwilling tochallenge slaveholders who brought slaves into the state. And other laws, such as one allowing people to bring slaves into the state if they stayed only temporarily, under­ mined the constitution, Shirley Moore said. ■M M M M M S N N M S N S M M M I atch a game o f high The 1RS Recognizes Obesity as a Disease by D enise J ohnson H ealth P ursuits O wner /P ersonai . T RAINER Obesity is a risk factor for heart disease, stroke, type 2 dia­ betes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, elevated cholesterol levels, and some cancers Currently, 31% of United States adults, age 20-74 years are obese, defined by a body mass index (B MI) greater than 25 (see how to calculate your BMI in the Exercise Tip sec­ tion). The increasing preva­ lence of obesity has become a major public health and m edi­ cal concern, and is considered an epidem ic by many. On April 2, 2002, the Inter­ nal Revenue Service acknowl­ edged this growing health prob­ lems and recognized obesity as a disease by issuing Rev­ enue Ruling 2002-19. This rul­ ing allows taxpayers to deduct the cost o f weight loss pro­ g ram s as m ed ic al e x ­ p en ses from th e ir a d ju s te d gross income (AGI) if they have been diagnosed as obese by a physician. A diagnosisof obesity allows the cost of “the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or preven­ tion” to be deducted. Exercise/w eight-loss pro­ grams, nutrition counseling, and behavioral counseling are some o f the services covered by th is ru lin g . H o w ev er, weight-loss expenses for cos­ metic purposes or for general good health are not covered, nor are health club m em ber­ ship dues or diet-related foods. Take charge of Your Health & Finances Begin by speaking w ith your ph y si­ cian. You should ask for a w ritten note specifying that you m ust lose w eight e it h e r b e c a u s e y o u a re obese or you have an illness that is m ade w orse by e x ­ cess w eight. Speak to your accountant. Total medical expenses must exceed 7.5% of AGI to be de­ ductible. Then call Health Pur­ suits (503) 513-9715. Reference source: http:// www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/ p502.pdf ■MMMn ■aMHMHSMBaaaHHBMSBaBBSHHnaMMMMHaSMSM Emanuel Scholarships for Students Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center Foundation is offer­ ing $1,000 scholarship grants to graduating seniors who intend to pursue careers in healthcare. Students must reside in north and northeast P ortland in the g e o g r a p h ic b o u n d a r ie s o f Jefferson, R oosevelt, G rant or M adison High Schools. The ap- plicants do not have to attend able for up to four years and the these schools, but they must live winners have the option of summer in the area. employment at Emanuel Hospital Other requirements include at after their college freshman and least a 2.75 cumulative GPA on high sophomore years. school transcripts and the inten­ The application deadline is tion to pursue a career in an accred­ March 17. Applications are avail­ ited medical program on a full-time able at local high schools or by basis. calling Emanuel Community Rela­ Scholarship grants are renew- tions at 503-413-4630. All School R eunion The schools have closed but ner is at 5 p.m. Monday, April 12. reunions continue for former stu­ The dinner is at Our Lady of dents and faculty of Girls Poly­ S o rro w s S c h o o l, 5239 S.E . technic, James Monroe and Wash­ Woodstock BI vd. Tickets are $ 15. ington-Monroe high schools. The For more information, call 503-236- 66lhannual all-school reunion din- 6557. C school hoops or call I lie plays yourself at the chess hoard, \tte nd a nearby concert o r make your oh n music on our piano. \t Irvington Milage our sensitive assistance helps you remain independent. Help with dally activities like medication managemenl and housekeeping w ill set you free Io live life in a big way. Enjoy our life enriching programs. Savor new friendships over delicious meals. Relax in the security of our commitmei Come see the studio and one- bedroom apartments we offer. Call today Io schedule a com plim entary lunch and lour, (503) ’>46-9292. 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