February 22, 2012
The
Portland Observer Black History Month
Opinion articles do not necessarily represent the views o f the
Portland Observer. We welcome reader essays, photos and
story ideas. Submit to news@portlandobserver.com.
O pinion
Page 19
New Prices
Effective
May 1 ,2 0 1 0
Martin
* _, ¿
CAPITA^: IT S’ AW ABOUT RISK "TAKlUO'!
Cleaning
Service
Carpet & Upholstery
Cleaning
Residential &
Commercial Services
Minimum Service CHG.
$45.00
A sm all distance/travel charge
m ay be applied
CARPET CLEANING
2 Cleaning Areas or
more $30.00 Each Area
Pre-Spray Traffic Areas
(Includes: 1 small Hallway)
1 Cleaning Area (only)
$40.00
Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area
(Hallway Extra)
Stairs (12-16 stairs - With
O ther Services): $25.00
Segregation is Still Alive and Well
Separate
communities
foster divisions
J udge G reg M athis
In the 80s, A m erica’s
n eig h b o rh o o d s becam e
m ore diverse as w hites,
blacks and other ethnic
groups began to live in
close proxim ity to one
another. It w as as if the ideals o f the
C ivil R ights m ovem ent w ere finally
com ing to life.
T hirty o r so years later, things
have changed, and not for the b et
ter. As far as integration goes, this
country has taken a step backw ard.
A nalysis o f the m ost recent C en
sus data tells us that segregation is
alive and well. In fact, m ost people,
by
regardless o f their ethnic group, live
in n eig h b o rh o o d s that are o v e r
w helm ingly m ade up o f people w ho
look ju s t like them .
B lacks are the m ost segregated
m inority group in this country; m ore
than 60-percent live in m ajo r
ity black neighborhoods, w hile
only 4 8 -percent o f H ispanics
and 4 5 -percent o f A sians live
in monolithic com m unities. The
average w hite A m erican lives
in a n eighborhood that is 74-
percent w hite.
T his isn ’t the segregation o f the
60s, though som e o f the deep seeded
feelings and policies that created
that system still affect us all today.
R ather, m any A m ericans tend to
self-segregate.
It’s not as if blacks are falling
o v er them selves to live in all w hite
com m unities. O ur natural tendency
thr JJortlanh (Dbseruer
Established 1970
USPS 959-680 ________________________________
4747 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 97211
to ‘stick w ith our o w n ’, how ever,
has its draw backs.
W hen racial groups are sep a
rated; that division creates an u n fa
m iliarity with the beliefs and culture
o f others. T his lack o f know ledge
creates an environm ent w here ste
reotypes and racial and ethnic bias
thrive.
A dditionally, segregated n eig h
b o rh o o d s lead to s e p a ra te , bu t
w holly unequal, services. In c o m
m unities w here the m ajority o f the
residents are m inorities, there is less
funding available for schools. As a
result, our children receive su b stan
dard instruction.
Indeed, m iddle class black c h il
dren living in m ajority black neig h
borhoods are less prepared for c o l
lege than low er incom e w hite c h il
dren living in m ajority w hite c o m
m unities.
A n y o n e w h o liv e s in - o r has
v isite d - M ilw a u k e e , N ew Je rse y ,
D e tro it, C h ic a g o an d N ew Y ork
w ill no t be s u rp rise d th a t th ese
c itie s lead the n a tio n in s e g re g a
tio n . T h e m a y o rs o f th e se m e tro
p o lita n a re a s sh o u ld fo rm a task
fo rce an d w o rk to g e th e r, alo n g
w ith the fe d e ral g o v e rn m e n t, to
a d d re ss th e d iv isio n s th at s e g re
g a tio n c re a te s.
From purposefully creating d i
v e rse , m ix e d -in c o m e n e ig h b o r
hoods to developing a school fi
nance system that equally funds
each child, there are num erous steps
cities can take to lessen the n eg a
tive im pacts o f racial segregation.
Judge Greg Mathis is a longtime
advocate fo r equal justice. His life
story ofa street youth who rosefrom
jail to judge has provided hope to
millions.
The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions. Manuscripts and photographs should be clearly
labeled and w ill he returned if accompanied by a self addressed envelope. All created design display ads
become the sole property o f the newspaper and cannot be used in other publications or personal usage without
the written consent o f the general manager, unless the client has purchased the composition of such ad. O 2008
T H E P O R TLA N D OBSERVER. A L L R IG H TS RESERVED, R E PR O D U C TIO N IN W H O L E OR IN PART
W IT H O U T PERM ISSION IS P R O H IB ITE D . The Portland Observer--Oregon's Oldest Multicultural Publica-
Charles H. Washington
EDiroR.Michael L eighton
D istr ibu tio n M anager : M ark W ashington
C reative D irector : P aul N e u feld t
E ditor - in -C hiee , P ublisher :
tio n-is a member of the National Newspaper Association -Founded in 1885, and The National Advertising
Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc. New York. NY, and The West Coast Black Publishers Association
CALL 503-288-0Q33 FAX 503-288-0015
news @portlQnd()bjerv(r. com
ads@portlandobserver, com
snbscription@Dortlandobserver.com
P ostmaster : Send address changes to Portland Observer, P0 Box 313 7, Portland, OR97208
Area/Oriental Rugs:
$25.00 Minimum
Area/Oriental Rugs (Wool):
$40.00Minimum
Heavily Soiled Area:
Additional $10.00 each area
(Requiring Extensive Pre-Spraying)
UPHOLSTERY
CLEANING
Sofa: $69.00
Loveseat: $49.00
Sectional: $ 109 - $ 139
Chair or Recliner:
$25 - $49
Throw Pillows (With
Other Services): $5.00
%
ADDITIONAL
SERVICES
• Area & Oriental Rug
Cleaning
• Auto/Boat/RV Cleaning
• Deodorizing & Pet
Odor Treatment
• Spot & Stain
Removal Service
• Scotchguard Protection
• Minor Water Damage
Services
SEE CURRENT FLYER
FOR ADDITIONAL
PRICES & SERVICES
Call for Appointment
(503) 281-3949