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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 2008)
Februaiy 27. 2 0 0 8 Page B2 ÍW ics I Paul A. Neufeldt 503-875-1695 pan@daos.org graphi Quality Design and Business Support Graphic Design Logos • • Signage Company Identity • • Outdoor Events Ad Design • Web Design m hd 89.1 fm À "•"e-''“ «.''."4''0 “ 2 '20 ° 0 E 8 A T * N V tim e BY; * ' P hone mail X Er cT4Tou" ^ £ ^ s ,T £ . W w w k m h d . o R g G U A R D IN O B lack H istory M onth Facing Wartime Challenges: While labor demands bring opportunity World War II was both an in tense challenge and a significant opportunity for blacks in Portland. Acute labor shortages and a booming wartime industrial job market expanded Portland’s Afri can-A m erican population from 2,565 in 1940to 25,000 in 1944. The demand for labor, along with the wartime Fair Employment Practices Commission, buffered to some ex tent the racism that permeated Portland's private industry and lo cal unions. In her memoirs, Kathryn Hall Bogle, recalled her wartime experi PHOTO t ()l RTESY OF THE OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY ence working as one of the first black women to hold an office po Signs similar to this one in 1943 across the street from the Kenton Theater in north Portland sition in government at the U.S. popped up all around town during World War II. Employment Office. ued through the wartime era in the ued to operate already established There, Hall witnessed wartime their ranks. At the same time, blaeks were job market and in urban housing institutions in Portland that sought racism as well as new opportuni ties offered blacks in the public hired freely for common labor and standards. Blaeks did not sit by to provide a voice for Portland’s black residents. Through today sector. For instance. Hall recalled in all shipyards except the Albina idly, however. Several agencies, including the these groups continue to represent blaeks being turned down for Shipyard, which was privately Portland branch of the N A ACP, the P o rtla n d ’s black com m unity specialized jobs they had worked owned. T raining programs for ship Urban League, the Office of Voca through education, employment all their lives including steve yard skil Is and shipyard crafts were tional Opportunity, and the Com programs, legal representation, and dores, truck drivers, and laundry also offered to blaeks and whites mittee on Inter-Racial Principles and the promotion of equality and civil workers because of union laws alike. Practices, established and contin- rights. Racism against blaeks contin that did not allow blaeks to join Novel Depicts Horror of Lynching in effect, secretly cross enemy lines, disguising their true identities— has, interestingly enough, found new currency in post-m odern It’s become a cliche to say that America, with famous light-skinned both lynching and “passing" are blaeks now being able to publicly parts of the African-American ex claim their intra-raeial "diversity," perience most Americans, includ in effect refusing to take a side in ing and perhaps especially African the classic divide. Americans, would like to forget. Taking a side is what this graphic However, the recent Jena 6 novel, a fictional tribute to NA ACP ease— in which nooses were found leader Walter W hite's death-defy under a tree where black teenagers ing lynching investigations almost were allowed to sit near a Louisiana a century ago, is all about. high school— have brought up the Harlemite Zane Pinchbaek’s se ugly history of lynching again. cret identity is "Incognegro," the town. The New Holland Herald (an “ P assing”— in w hich lig h t muckraking investigative columnist obvious play on The New York skinned African Americans would, for the best black newspaper in Amsterdam News). H e's light- ‘Incognegro’ goes undercover February Show: Chris Haberman, Jennifer Mercede & M ario Robert Paintings & Mixed Media Assemblages Pictured: Chris Haberman's "Alberta Art Hop" O v e r 10 ye a rs o n A lb e rta S tre e t • Changing M o nthly Shows •Contemporary Art & Craft in Gift Shop OPEN six days a week 2939 NE Alberta • Portland, OR 97211 503 281-9048 • www.guardinogallery.com Have you seen me? ‘The Inspirational Legacy of AI Forthan’ continued from Metro thought to cheek his ear before he sped away. The experience knocked me so off balance," Lorthan said, “my body went into some kind of shock, I couldn't stop shaking for days New Prices Effective May 1,2007 1-800-THE-LOST Endangered Runaway Martin Cleaning Service Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Residential & Commercial Services Minimum Service CHG $45.00 Carpet Cleaning 2 Cleaning Areas or more $30.00 Each Area Pre-Spray Traffic Areas (Includes: / sm all H allw ay) 1 Cleaning Area (only) $40.00 I Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area • H allway Extra) JESSICA BANKS MOHAMMUD Current Age: 15 Date Missing: Feb. 9,2008 Missing From: Ingleside, IL Both photos are of Jessica. Stairs (12-16 stairs) $25.00 (W ith O ther S ervices) Heavily Soiled Area: continued M issing F ro m Chicago. II. D ate Missing: Feb. 9 .2 0 0 8 Both photos are of Janice. I f y o u have any inform ation please contact: The National C enter for Missing and Exploited Children I -800-THE-1X)ST ( I-800-843-56781 This public service announcement provided h\ the Portland <tbserver Newspaper. % from Metro poverty, violence in general, rac ism. and inequitiesofelass. gender, and sexual orientation." Rotary President Dick Clark said the club is deeply com m itted to creating “a center that will be a legacy of earing for the most vulnerable among us— those who are not safe in their own homes because of the violence that lives there with them." T he In te rsta te C o rrid o r o f UPHOLSTERY CLEANING |A N I( E B O Z E M A N did his internship at MRC and on Dee. 23,1996, he received an early holiday gift— he was the first MRC alum to be hired as a fulltime Certi fied Addiction Counselor. "The Inspirational Legacy o f Al Forthan" film premiere on March 13 is a fundraiser for the Al Forthan Memorial Recovery Scholarship. Three $ I .(MX) scholarships will be awarded this year, one specifically to a senior from Jefferson High School (Forthan's alma mater) and one specifically to a senior from Centennial High School. The third is open Io all Portland Public high school seniors. Ticket admission price is $10 (sliding scale if you're in treatment) and includes refreshments. Doors will open at 7 p.m. with the movie beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Holly wood Theatre is located at 4122 N.L. Sandy Blvd. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling Juliaat 503-802-0299. Empowerment Center Area & Oriental Rug Cleaning Auto/Boat/RV Cleaning Deodorizing & Pet O dor Treatm ent Spot & Stain Removal Service Scotehguard Protection Sofa Loveseat Sectional Chair or Recliner Throw Pillows (W ith O ther Services) afterwards. I knew then that things were out of control in my life. It was lime to get some real help." Several months later, while once again in jail, an intake coordinator and counselor from the M en's Resi dential Center of Volunteers of America Oregon entered Forthan's life and he was admitted to the treatment program. During the next few intense months, the training he received helped him recognize how his false perceptions about himself and his world had distorted his thinking. Lor the first time in his life, he began to see hope for recovery as he found the understanding and strength to make some permanent changes. After completing the program. Lorthan enrolled in the Portland Community College and earned an Associates degree in Alcohol and Drug Counseling. He was a model student, on the honor roll and the dean’s list. He Additional $10.00 ADDITIONAL SERVICES C u rr e n t Age: 1 5 skinned enough to “pass,” so he can investigate lynchings close up, literally risking his neck in the process. Although he wants to place his real byline into the Harlem Renaissance vortex swirling around him. he's summoned back to wear the mask one more time to free his brother, who’s been framed for the murder of a white woman. Author Mat Johnson beautifully alternates humor and horror, turn ing even a profanity-filled phrase as easily as blood Bowed from the lynching trees. Illustrator Warren Pleeee's simplicity in draftsman ship keeps attention on the story and characters, not pretty pictures. $79.00 $59.00 $109 - $139 $35 - $49 $5.00 North Portland, with its easy ac cess to public transportation, has been identified as the first choice for the location of the center. A property has not yet been found, but a search com m ittee is working toexplore all options for a space expandable up to 15,000 square feet. To get involved in making this center a reality, contact the Brad ley-Angle House at 503-238-1672 or the Rotary Cluh of Portland at 503-228-1542. See Flyers for Additional Prices ( all For Appointment \d \ ertise with diversity in " f lo r tim tb (D bev ru rr (503) 281-3949 5O 3-288-O O 33 t