œi’1 IJo rtlan h (Observer
February 22, 2006
Page BS
BLACK HISTORY M O N TH and the American Experience
Story of Civil War Patriots Finally Told
‘Uncommon
Valor’ traces
historic battle
A new groundbreaking book on
the role of African American sol­
diers during the Civil War tells the
historic and glorious story of 14
black soldiers who won the Con­
gressional Medal of Honor.
“Uncommon Valor: The Story of
Race, Patriotism, and Glory in the
Final Battles of the Civil War tells
the riveting story of the battle of
New Market Heights.
This battle was arguably the
single most important in African
American military history. But for
more than 140 years, the story of
the black farmers, laborers and
tradesmen who bravely risked their
lives on a killing field in Virginia
remained largely untold. While the
battles of Atlanta, Bull Run, and
Using personal diaries, letters,
and other firsthand accounts, the
authors follow Christian Fleetwood,
a free 23-year-old black man living
in Baltimore, who, a few days after
Gettysburg, made the momentous
and patriotic decision to enlist.
The authors re-create the suffer­
ing and sacrifice of black men bat­
tling not only rebel enemies but
abusive racism from officers and
soldiers on their own side.
‘Uncommon Valor' describes
how Fleetwood and his fellow “col­
ored" troops were torn between the
righteousness of their cause and
the daily reminders of their second-
Gettysburg would be memorialized class status.
in history books and in the minds of
The book also examines the
Americans, few have heard of New battle’s impact on the passage of
Market Heights.
the 1874 Civil Rights Act, which
Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist was voided almost immediately by
Melvin Claxton and former investi­ the U S. Supreme Court . That court
gative reporter Mark Puls tell for decision, the authors point out,
the first time this powerful tale of paved the way for nearly a century
war, heroism, and liberation.
of Jim Crow laws in the South.
UNCOMMON
VALOR
Diversity Embraced in 1958
A scene at the Institute on Race Relations, sponsored by the Wesleyan Service Guilds at
Hughes Memorial Methodist Church, March 22,1958. John W. Berry o f Pacific University
(second from right) was keynote speaker. (OHS neg. 26051)
PHOTOS COURTESY OK THE O R EG O N HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Painful Journey Untold stories of Vietnam
A True Blood, the ex­
traordinary life journey
o f a young A frican-
American athlete at the
top of his game who was
sent to fight a war he
didn't understand, in a
country he didn't know.
Vietnam robbed him of
his dignity, his faith, his
hope, his job, his lifestyle
and family.
Gene Pace
A uthor G ene Pace
calls A True Blood his fictionalized and delusions.
biography because it tells personal
Pace was part of a brotherhixxl of
and painful accounts of some of the black soldiers who shared the single-
untold stories of Vietnam involv­ minded purpose to not allow history
ing murder, drugs, conspiracies. to repeat itself without a fight.
They vowed to themselves
and to each other that what
they learned there would be
used to further the cause of
freedom, justice and equality
for their people, for America,
and for the world. Their com­
mitment to truth, which was
fortified and reinforced with
the blood, sweat and sacrifice
of thousands of young Blacks
and Latinos, was supposed to
last a lifetime.
A True Blood provides answers
to some of the lingering questions
about Vietnam, the war that so pro­
foundly changed the lives of those
who served there.
Smiley Urges Activism in ‘Covenant’
His new book
pushes issues
forward
Author and broadcaster Tavis
Smiley's new book The Covenant
with Black America,’ is aimed at
inspiring African Americans to take
action to address 10 of the most
daunting issues impacting black
communities, households and in­
dividuals.
Topics include closing the digi­
tal divide, inequalities in the justice
system, disparity in healthcare and
improving public education. A list
o f resources, suggestions and
checklists are provided for what
individuals, public policymakers
and corporate citizens can do to
move the African American com­
munity forward, socially, politically
and economically.
In addition, 'T he Covenant'
contains information on how indi­
viduals and households can make
changes that will im m ediately
improve theircircumstances in spe­
cific areas, such as health, educa­
tion, crime reduction, financial
well-being and personal security.
“This book is in a sense a love
letter from Black America to
Black America to educate
ourselves on the issues we all
know exist in our communi­
ties and then to challenge and
hold each other accountable
to fix them," Smiley said.
“Moreover, the Covenant is
our document of accountabil­
ity for the entire body politic
post-Hurricane Katrina and in
advance of the 2006 and 2008 na­
tional elections."
The book is the result of a year­
long project conceived by Smiley
as a follow up to the annual State of
the Black Union symposiums he
has organized during the last six
years. These gatherings bring to­
gether thought-leaders and opin­
ion-makers to discuss issues im­
pacting African Americans.
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Eliminating Race in Job Requirements
F. Shelton Hill stands over the signing of 1950 agreement with the state o f Oregon Employ­
ment Service eliminating racially-entitled jobs. Hill went on to serve as president of the Urban
League of Portland from 1959-79. (OHS neg. # 25459)
"E ver ybo d y c a n be G r eat
B ecause A nybo dy C a n S er ve "
Martin Luther King Junior
For Job Inform ation:
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at (503) 823-1343
or
Call our Recruitment Officer, Erwin Warren
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or
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To learn more about these and other optxxtunllies, please visit tax
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