M Page Bfe a r t in 2 005 E i ther s p e c ia l Vhcnisc \\ uh diversity in ffl’l’|3t»rtlanb (0b«i'VOrr ( .ill >03 2ss 0033 advO portlandohserver ^.oui I< I n g J R . e a / / / o n J a n u a ry 12, 2 00 S A Change for Progress Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard means viability for business by J aymee R. C uti T he P ortland O bserver "Y ou th P o te n tia l R e alized " SEI salutes the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.! "The failures o f the p a st m ust n ot be an excuse for the inaction o f the present a n d the future " ~Martin Luther King , Jr., 1967 When a few citizens rallied together to change the name of Union Avenue to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard 14 years ago, the Renaming Committee was met with opposition. Though some entrepreneurs strenuously ob jected to the change, and even appealed to the Land Use Board of Appeals, others saw the renaming as a chance for new hope along the strip vilified for its boarded up storefronts and rundown appearance. here because of the name change. Larry Matthews, owner of Yam Yams on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, said the name change was a step for progress. He had marched for civil rights in the 1960s. “Once the name changed, they started fixing up the avenue and businesses started to move in," Knauls said. “It really helped the city and the community having a street named after Dr. King.” Knauls made the former Cotton Club a premier hotspot for jazz. He established the former G eneva’s nightclub that also attracted prominent local and national jazz and contem porary musicians. Knauls and his wife cur rently own G eneva's Shear Perfection, a sa lon proudly on Martin Luther King Jr. Boule Traditionally they would take the worst street in most cities— not a place that you would actually visit—and call it Martin Luther King Jr •Over 50% of African American Children in Oregon do not graduate from high school •Over 90% of students in the SEI program graduate from high school Paul Knauls Sr. The businesses against renaming the main thoroughfare through northeast Portland after King were Union Avenue Glass, City Antiques. City Liquidators, Roth BMW, Bums Bros. Inc. and Anderson Bros. Inc. Those business owners where shot down when the city attorney ruled that a renaming committee didn’t need popular approval to change the street name. The boulevard we know today as Martin Luther King Jr. was voted in by a 5-0 City Council vote in April of that year. The Future is NOW!! Seif Enhancement, Inc. 3920 N. Kerby Ave. Portland, Oregon 97227 Mt. Hood Community College salutes the contributions African-Americans have made to our community and looks forward to the achievements of tomorrow. “Now more than ever, it’s important to understand our past struggles and achievements in order to re inforce the strength of our wills. We must focus on the similarities that we share in history, rather than our differences, which can act as barriers to our progress in society. If knowledge is truly power, then knowl edge of self and our history of oppression will only bring African Americans closer to the true American value of equality and freedom.” Marcia L. Graves S upport A n alyst C oo rdinato r M t . H ood C o m m u n it y C ollege Paul Knauls Sr., a longtime African-Ameri can entrepreneur, said he moved his business “It’s made ourcommunity really proud to have a street like this in the community,” Knauls said. According to Knauls, Portland’s Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard is one of the best in the country, and the only one that has a statue of King along the stretch. “Traditionally they would take the worst street in most cities— not a place that you would actually visit— and call it Martin Luther King Jr.,” he said. “In Portland, we took the street named for Dr. King and made it one of the most viable ones.” Although Matthews says his business, at its current locaiton for five years, was not affected by the name change, he believes it was deserved. “I think we needed something to commemo rate Dr. King. It was a good change for progress,” he said. Worship for King Registration for spring term begins March 7. Visit www.mhcc.edu for more information! Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in a monologue rather than a dialogue. -D r. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. M t H o o d C O M M U N IT Y CO LLEG E ---- «---- K N O W L E D G E /or S U C C E S S 26000 SI Si ARE I Portland’s former Mayor Vera Katz was given credit for much revitalization that hap pened along the boulevard since the name change, making it a safer and more attractive place for businesses to be. vard for 13 years. S i R H I • <.HI S H A M , O R I (.O N K A rea residents are in vited to honor Rev. M ar tin L uther K ing's legacy by atten d in g the annual c ity w id e se rv ic e p re sented by the Albina Min isterial A llian ce,ag ro u p o f A fric a n -A m e ric a n clergy. T he w orship c e le b ra tion is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m . S unday, Jan. 16 at the new ly c o n s t r u c te d E m m a n u e l T e m p le F u ll G o s p e l C hurch o f G od, 1033 N. S um ner St. Im m anuel P asto r C. T. W ells will host the service and Dr. M ark S tro n g o f L ife Change Christian Church is the featured speaker. For more inform ation, co n tact Dr. Rev. Leroy H aynes Jr., M LK w o r ship celebration c o o rd i nator, at A llen T em ple A M E C hurch. Advertise with diversity in (©Hseruer call 503.288.0033 or email: ads@portlandobserver.com