Œlir Iportlauò February 21. 2007 (Observer B la c k H ístO iy M o n th Page A5 B lack H istory M onth Sisters of Selma - Bearing Witness to Change Church owes record of social • • activism to its avowed women The C atholic Church ow es much o f its record o f social activism to its avowed w om en, for whom service is the high­ est calling. M ost orders o f nuns were founded for social service - teaching children, nursing the sick and perform ing all tasks “o f which woman is capable.” It is not surprising that in 1965 and there­ after the sisters cam e to the city of Selm a, Ala., to help the oppressed - the A frican-A m erican citizens o f the South fighting for their civil rights. A new generation o f A frican-A m eri­ cans challenged the status quo o f the D eep South o f the 1960s. These nuns o f the C atholic Church (w hich had long been perceived as a "w hite” institution) join ed the civil rights stru g g le...an d in doing so, the church and the sisters were them selves transformed. T h e first-h a n d acco u n ts o f how they served as unforeseen heroines and heroes during the Selm a-to-M ont- g o m e r y m a rc h a n d m o v e m e n ts th ro u g h o u t th e U .S. w as re c e n tly p ro filed in the d o cu m en tary “S isters o f S e lm a : B e a r in g W itn e s s fo r On an o v e rc a st m orning on M arch 7, 1 9 6 5 , h u n d re d s o f A la b a m a r e s id e n ts walk a c ro ss a bridge in S e lm a , Ala., h e a d in g for th e s ta te Capitol to d e m o n s tr a te for voting rights. (AP p h o to ) S is te r M ary A n to n a C h an g e" w hich aired this m onth on PBS stations across the country. For decades, local laws had all but prevented blacks from voting. And those w ho did venture to protest often faced h a ra s s m e n t - e v e n d e a th . B lack Selm ians, supported by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., decided to m arch to the state capital o f M ontgom ery to draw attention to their plight. On a Sunday in early spring, dozens o f peaceful pro­ testers on their way out o f the city were brutally beaten back by state troopers and the sheriff's posse on horseback. Once you have marched in Selma, Sister, you can never Sister Mary Peters, Secretary, stay home again. - 1965 National Catholic Council for Interracial Justice T he v iolence o f "Bloody Sunday" stunned Americans, focusing nation­ wide attention on civil rights. A group o f American nuns from St. Louis were am ong the first to protest Entrance to the show will be $14 regular price, $6 dollars for ladies in the first hour. VIP cards fashion and live music shows, cul­ will be given to booth holders. minating with a dance party. All Participants and sponsors will three parts should include the wid­ have the opportunity to network est array of talent from Portland's with some of Port land's most avant- emerging music, hip hop, and fash­ garde fashion and music enthusi­ ion circles. asts. The primary purpose of the event For more information, call M. is to promote local black entrepre­ M akano at A u d acity D esign neurship, especially in these two H ouse,503-975-5013: lllaj at 503- industries, and culture. 957-5975; or AD at 503-327-1755. Fashion, Music Ball Slated The first annual Black History M onth Fashion and Music Ball presented by Ideation Studios, Sam eunderneath and Audacity Design House takes off on Satur­ day, Feb. 24 at 9:30 p.m. at the New Born Tribe on northeast Fre­ mont and M artin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The event will consist of a trade. The F ranciscan S is te r s o f Mary arrived in S t. L ouis in 1 8 7 2 d e te r ­ m in e d to live a c o n s e c r a te d life, b e c o m e se lf-su p p o rtin g a n d h e lp th o s e in n e e d . the violence. At a time when many church leaders were reluctant to ad­ dress the treatm ent o f blacks in the South, these courageous women de­ fied authority - and a long history of simply praying for causes - to take their message to the streets o f Selma. The Missouri sisters were welcomed by the black residents. This was due in large pail to the decades o f bridge­ building by sisters from R ochester. NY., who had met the education and health care needs o f the poor blacks of Selma. The A rchbishop o f Mobile- Birmingham had prohibited them from joining the m arches, so they fed, housed and cared for w aves o f civil rights activists from elsewhere. Subscribe il’1 |Ju rtlan b (Ohsmivr o f” &usend/? Attn: Subscriptions. PO Box 3137, Portland OR 97208 503-288-0033 s u b s c r ip tio n s a re ju s t $60 per year (please include cheek w ith this subscription fo rm ) N ame :___ A ddress :. T elephone : or email subscriptions@ portlandobserver.com B lack H istory M onth 2007 THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC AGENCIES IN THE PORTLAND METROPOLITAN ARIA SAI IIT li The Achievements o f Black American Scientists & Inventors Many skills and talents are needed to build a great country. I hroughout American history, often under adverse conditions, African American scientists have advanced our nation through their research, inventions, patents, and innovations in technology. I lere are a few examples: DR. CHARLES HENRY TURNER, PhD. (¡867- ¡923) was one o f the very first African-American researchers in animal behavior. He published over 50 papers in the areas o f physiology, invertebrate ecology and morphology. Or. Turner is best known fo r his pioneering work demonstrating hearing in insects. DR. DANIEL HALE WILLIAMS ( 1856-1931) Daniel Hale Williams is credited with having performed open heart surgery on July 9, 1893 before such surgeries were established. In 1913, Daniel Hale Williams Williams was the only African American member o f the American Callege o f Surgeons. MAE JEMISON MADAME C. J. WALKER {born 1956) Dr. Jemison earned her medical degree from Cornell University, and practiced international medicine before answering NASA's call. She became the first African American woman to enter space as a mission specialist with the Space Shuttle Endeavor in 1992. She now heads the Jem i­ son group, with projects that include im­ proving health care in Africa and advancing technology in developing countries. She is fluent in four languages. Inventor and Entrepreneur ( 1867- 1919) created hair care products and a DR. PERCY JULIAN, PhD. national product distribution model that {1899- 1975) Dr. Julian revolutionized the hair care and cosmetic was a chemist who industry fo r African women in synthesized physostigmine the 20th centurv. fo r treatment o f glaucoma and cortisone for the treatment o f rheumatoid arthritis. Among his many DR. NEIL DECRASSE TYSON, PhD. research achievements. {born 1958) Dr. Tyson, an astrophysicist, is the Director o f the Hayden Dr. Julian developed and Planetarium at the American Museum o f Natural History, and Visit­ held a patent fo r a fire- ing Research Scientist and Lecturer at Princeton University. His re­ retardant foam used to search interests include star formation, exploding stars, dwarf galax­ extinguish gasoline and ies, and the structure o f our Milky IVczy. Dr. Tyson hosts the PBS Nova oil fires. television series. Nova Science Now. Please contact the following agencies about contracting and consulting opportunities: Multnomah County - Robert Fields • 503-988 5111 ext. 22796 • robert.heldsrico.multnomah oc.us • www.multcopurch.org Metro - Cinna'Mon Williams • 503-797-1816 • williamsci metro.dst.or.us • www.metro-region org Housing Authority of Portland - Jerry Walker • 503-802-8509 • jerryw2a hapdx.org • www.hapdx.org City of Vancouver Angela Watkins • 360-619-1028 • angela.watkins i ci.Vancouver wa.us. • www.ci.vancouver.wa us CITY OF PORTLAND: Bureau of Purchases - Greg Wolley • 503-823-6860 • gwolley(