Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, February 18, 2009, Black History Month, Page 6, Image 6

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    Februaiy 18, 2009
Page A6
B lack H istory M onth
History of Black New York
Examining the history of New
York's African-American citizens
and culture from the early 16(X)s
through today and its impact on
the world is the critically ac­
claimed film New York Noir: The
History of Black New York.
A frican-A m ericans lived in
New York City long before the
arrival of the British, Irish and Ital­
ians or anyone Jewish or Catho­
lic. Their contributions as both
slaves and free men and women
were integral to the rise of one of
the world's greatest cities.
T he are a s now kn o w n as
C hina Tow n, L ittle Italy and
G reenw ich Village were once
called the "Negro Frontier." Yet
Blacks were the last to become
full citizens.
The film features rare histori­
cal footage and segments on civil rights, politics, business, military heroes
and entertainment.
This film honors and pays tribute to the many stellar contributions African-
Americans have made to New York, the nation and, indeed, the w orld-includ­
ing Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, Count Basie, Cab Calloway and Colin Powell,
among many others.
In color and black and white. New York Noir: The History of Black New
York is presented by Little Dizzy Home Video.
Celebrated Singer Takes a Stand
Contralto singer Marian Anderson performs on the steps o f the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday on
April 9,1939, after she had been refused permission to perform in Washington D.C. 's Constitution
Hall by the hall's owners, the Daughters o f the American Revolution. The outdoor concert attracted a
large crowd, and many more listened by radio, focusing attention on Anderson and subsequent cases
o f racial discrimination.
lIMNMMMlMfMMIMRMMMMillMlMNMiRHMNMMWMRMHMMiMMMMHMMMHMMi
1924 Civil Rights Book Recast
Documenting rarely recognized achievements
James & Mytien Kent with President Barack Obama
P o rtla n d f ^ e a u ty S c h o o l
S a lu te s and S u p p o rts
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(AP) - The Ku Klux Kian was
rising again. Segregation was
the law and Martin Luther King
Jr. was not even bom yet.
Amid the terror and oppres­
sion, civil rights pioneer W.E.B.
D uB ois
p u b lish e d
a
groundbreaking book in 1924
that challenged the pervasive
stereotypes of African-Ameri­
cans and docum ented th eir
rarely recognized achievements.
His book, "The Gift of Black
Folk: The Negroes in the Mak­
ing of America," detailed the
role of African-Americans with
the earliest explorers to inven­
tions ranging from ice cream to
player pianos. He argued that
blacks were crucial to conquer­
ing the w ilderness, winning
w ars, expanding dem ocracy
and c re a tin g a p ro sp e ro u s
econom y by producing to ­
bacco, sugar, cotton and rice
and helping to build the Panama
Canal.
"The Negro worked as farm
Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. wel­
hand and peasant proprietor, as
comes a new edition o f the book by W.E.B. DuBois "The
laborer, artisan and inventor
Gift o f Black Folk: The Negroes in the Making o f America."
and as servant in the house, and
without him, America as we of the Knights o f Columbus, and historical narrative as weap­
know it, would have been im­ wrote in the introduction. "The ons in the civil rights m ove­
Gift of Black Folk allows us to ment, trying to show that black
possible," DuBois wrote.
A new edition of the book is fully appreciate these m onu­ people were innately as intelli­
gent as white people, that they
being published to mark the mental achievements."
Harvard University profes­ weren't distinctly inferior by
100th anniversary of the Na­
tional Association for the Ad­ sor Henry Louis Gates Jr., who nature and the best way to do
vancement of Colored People, edited DuBois' works, includ­ that they felt was by holding
which DuBois co-founded. The ing "The Gift of Black Folk," up the achievements of intelli­
new edition also marks Black welcomed the Knights reissu­ gent or artistic or creative black
History Month and arrives with ing their own edition. The book, people," Gates said. "And no
President Barack Obama taking which came during the Harlem one did this more brilliantly
Renaissance, sparked similar than the great W.E.B. DuBois
office.
"A frican-A m ericans have books that raised the nation's himself."
T he K nights, the w orld's
served on the Supreme Court, c o n sc io u sn e ss o f A fric a n -
largest
Catholic lay organiza-
in the cabinet, and, finally, as A m erican achievem ents, he
president of the United States," said.
continued
on page A9
"Black people were using art
Carl Anderson, supreme knight
“When evil m en sh o u t ugly w ords
Ready, Set, C onnect... to Kindergarten
o f h a t r e d , g o o d m e n m u s t c o m m it
A great resource for parents and kids ages 4-5
t h e m s e l v e s to t h e g lo r ie s o f lo v e .
• Explore classroom learning stations.
• Meet kindergarten teachers.
• Discover programs and services PPS offers.
• Learn what you can do now so your child is ready for
school next year.
• Take home free educational materials.
• Interpreters available at all events.
¿¿CONNECTA
For more information, call 503-916-3205 or visit
www.readysetconnect.pps.k12.or.us
an u n ju st statu s qu o , good m e n m u st see k
to b rin g into b e in g a real o rd e r o f ju s tic e .”
— Martin Luther King, Jr.
Gregory P. Oliveros
Attorney At Law
Families are welcome to drop in at these free events:
I Regente Boys & Girls Club
W here evil m en w ould seek to p erp etu ate
I Blazers Boys & Girls Club
10 i.m.-2 pm. Saturday, feb. 28
5250 H I Martin Luther King Blvd.
10 a.m.-2 p.m Saturday feb. 21
4430 N. Trenton St.
I OMSI Family Sdence Night
6-8 p m Monday, March 2
1945 51. Water Aw.
(OMSI Café wrll be closed)
Portland Public Schools • $01 N. Dixon St. « Portland * www.pps.k12.or.us
!
O liveros & O ’B rien , PC
9200 SE Sunnybrook Blvd., Suite #150
Clackamas, OR 97015
503-786-3800