J a n u a ry 12, JOOS
Page B2
Martin Luther King,
NATIONWIDE
continued
from MLK Front
the late Steve Rogers.
An inner northeast community activist. Rogers
“For many whites, a street sign that says Martin
argued that to rename Northeast Union Avenue, in
Luther King tells them they are lost," Tilove writes.
the condition it was then in, would be an insult to
"For many blacks, a street sign that says Martin
King.
Luther King tells them they are found.” Tilove
Tilove notes that Rogers’ view is shared by
notes that, unlike the Martin Luther King Day
some African Americans. He quotes Angela W ill­
holiday , the street names are the result of sponta­
iams of Belle Glade, “The worst street in the city is
neous, local grass roots efforts.
named after Martin Luther King. Give a black man
"They honor Martin Luther King in precisely the
a black street in a black neighborhood? The pur­
way the national holiday cannot, by provoking
pose is to honor him. They should name Main
passions and controversy and
conflict, by stirring fervent de­
For many whites, a street
sign that says Martin
Luther King tells them they
are lost. For many blacks,
a street sign that says
Martin Luther King tells
them they are found.
bate about the meaning of his
life and what kind o f street
would do him credit," the au­
thor writes.
There was often heated con­
troversy about the renaming of
the streets, especially if it in­
volved territory outside the black
community. In 1986, both San
Diego and Harrisburg, Penn,
changed their Market Streets to
Martin Luther King Boulevards,
only to have the change re­
- Jonathan Tilove, author of “Along Martin Luther King,
versed by initiative, and smaller
Travels on Black America's Main Street."
streets named MLK in their
Street Martin Luther King Boulevard.”
stead.
Minnesota, the last state to have an MLK street,
In contrast Annie W illiams (same town, no
adopted three in 2002; on one of them, in the town
relation), said, “Got to keep it black, got to keep it
of Mankato, a white motorist deliberately knocked
black, Martin Luther King got to be black.”
down two of the street signs while shouting racial
epithets at children.
Nationwide, the streets so often encompass
landmark events in King’s life that, Tilove says, “At
In Portland the opposition included business
times the journey along King is like a pilgrimage
owners who objected to having to order new
along the stations of the cross for the martyred
stationery (and perhaps had other unstated mo­
hero.”
tives), conservatives such as W alter Huss who
continued
didn’ t want Dr. King to be honored, and people 1 ike
on page B4
Paul Knauls Jr. gives Carter Vann a haircut at Geneva's Shear Perfection on Northeast Martin
Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The photograph was included in a book devoted to MLK streets across
the nation.
PEOPLE, BUSINESSES,
AGENCIES AND
DIVERSITY
OF PEOPLE
AND EXPERIENCES
ARE THE RICHES
ORGANIZATIONS
WHO BELIEVE
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C I J T
P P O P JL T JL j I JLdl
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CAN DO MORE THAN
OF A CO M M UNITY.
SING, DANCE AND
The Port of Portland
celebrates diversity of all people and
recognizes Dr. Martin Luther King's
impassioned drive for civil rights.
Ô
SCORE POINTS.
PO RT OF P O R T L A N D
A A
z > /\v -r
African-American
Chamber of Commerce
www.blackchamber.info
(503) 796-0777
The Port is an equal opportunity employer, committed to affirmative
action Please call the 24-hour Job Hotline at 503 944 7480
or visit www.portofportland.com