May 9. 2007
^ 'Ï J n r t l a u b (Oh s e rp e r
pageC3
IMU IIISHISI
OPB Shines Light on Civil Rights Pioneer
Portland editor
challenged
status quo
B eatrice M orrow Cannady
(1889-1974) was a leading African
American civil rights activist in
Oregon during the early part of
the 20th century. Through her
interracial teas and hundreds of
lectures on black history and lit­
erature. Cannady became known
as the ambassador of inter-racial
goodwill.
The next episode of Oregon
Experience on Oregon Public-
Broadcasting (Channel 10) on
Monday, May 14 at 9 p.m. looks at
the life of this civil rights pioneer
who, despite accolades from her
peers, few Oregonians today re­
member.
A native Texan, and graduate
of Wiley College, she arrived in
Portland in 1912 and married the
publisher and co-founder of a
weekly African American news­
a law degree from Portland's
paper called The Advocate.
Northwestern College of Law in
During her 25-year career,
1922. Although she never passed
Cannady published The Advo­
the bar exam, she was the first
cate; gave hundreds of lectures
African American woman to prac­
- Beatrice Morrow Cannady
to white high-school and college
tice law in Oregon and chaired the
students; spoke to missionary ______________________________________________________
Portland NAACP’s committee on
societies and Portland
day-afternoon events combined legal redress.
congregations; was in­
entertainment, culture, and his­
She was also the first African
vited to address national
tory with local, national, and in­ American to run for an elected
audiences about her civil
ternational politics in an effort office in Oregon. Although she
rights efforts.
"to iron out ... misunderstand­ did not advance past the primary,
At a time when the color
ings between the races."
the support she garnered, prima­
line in Portland was rigid,
The gatherings grew in popu­ rily by white constituents, was
Cannady also hosted suc­
larity, and as many as 200 people proof of her standing in Portland
cessful interracial tea par­
by the 1930s.
filled her home.
ties at her home in north­
"It is a picture never to be for­
Cannady is one of the women
east Portland. The Sun-
gotten," Cannady wrote, "for its whose accomplishments will be
great beauty and the joy it affords acknowledged in the public space
to witness one of these gather­ being developed adjacent to Port­
ings where white and black, rich land State University and the
Beatrice Morrow
and
poor, C hristian and Jew South Park Blocks as the Walk of
Cannady was the editor
mingle
freely and discuss their Heroines. It is a fitting location,
of The Advocate, a
common
interests while sipping since Cannady gave free public-
weekly African Ameri­
lectures about African-American
together
a
cup of tea!"
can newspaper.
Driven to make a difference in art, poetry, history and music at
her community, Cannady earned nearby churches.
Only by contact with the races
will ever an understanding be reached.
Prince Plans Tour, Bible Study
Prince announced Tuesday
he will hold 21 concerts in
London and then take time off
music to study the Bible.
The innovative funk artist,
w ho
c re a te d
such
g ro u n d b re a k in g w o rk s as
1984’s "P urple Rain" and
1987 s "Sign O' The Times"
and sold an estim ated 80 m il­
lion albums, made a brief ap­
pearance in London to an­
nounce the gigs.
Outside Organization, a PR
company helping to publicize
the tour, said in a statement
that Prince would be perform ­
ing his greatest hits "for the
very last time," but the artist
did not confirm the claim.
W earing dark sh ad es, a
high-collared purple shirt and
G U A R D IN O
G A LLE R Y
NEXT SHOW
In the M ain Callery:
Andy Paiko
blown glass sculptures
Smith Eliot
Photo based acrylic lifts
In the Feature Area:
Craig Leaper
kiln formed glass
Darlene Pucillo
oil paintings
A p ril 2ó -M ay 29
Prince poses for photographers Tuesday ahead of a
news conference in London.
cream suit. Prince explained some of my favorite shows
why his only appearances in here."
Europe this year would take
Prince said he would be look­
place in London.
ing for a place to live for the
"I love London. I've had duration of his stay.
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