January I6. 2OI3
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M a r t in L u t h e r K in g J r .
Page 13
2013 sp e c ia l eoi tion
What Would Martin Luther King Jr. Say?
Community residents consider issues of today
C ari H achmann
T he P ortland O bserver
by
Rev. M artin L u th er K ing had
dreams o f equality and civil rights for
all Americans that live on and inspire
generations that follow him. But what
if Dr. King was alive today?
In honor o f his legacy, the Portland
Observer asked com m unity residents
what issue King w ould m ake his up
permost priority if he was still with us.
M any o f the people we spoke to do
not believe we have progressed far
enough in social justice and that King
w ould still be speaking to those is
sues. O thers believe he w ould be
outspoken on the violence in America,
the lack o f care for our children,
gentrification and a poor econom y.
Portland resident Taucha Bowden,
28, said the gun-related deaths from
young people would probably be one
o f his greatest concerns.
“He would w onder why people are
going into theaters and schools with
guns. H e'd ask w hat is the problem ?
W hat is going on in p eo p le’s heads?
W hat do they need? I think he w ould
address m ental health issues and
w hat's going on in people’s homes.
Taucha Bowden
B ow den said she believed King
w ould help young kids have more
opportunities in the community, such
as after-school program s that they
could look forw ard to.
Glenn, a 52-year-old Portland resi
dent, also thinks King would be fore
most concerned with our children who
are at risk.
“His relevancy is still there, even
after all these years, and I see the
need for Dr. K ing's approach and
philosophy today,” said Glenn. “Dr.
King would continue to deal with the
plight of the underprivileged.”
An elderly northeast Portland resi
dent echoes some of those sediments,
“I think he would address the young,
black male, aged 18 to 40,” she said.
M argie Burks, 78, o f north P ort
land shared the personal experience
o f her son’s struggles to gain housing
and em ploym ent after a long period
o f incarceration.
“He's learned his lesson,” she said.
“If I had a chance to talk to M artin
L uther King, I'd ask him to fight for
equal rights for our many sons and
brothers. For those who have served
prison time and com e out and still
can't get equal rights and fair hous
ing.”
A 28-year-old female of southeast
Portland said gentrification or the dis
placement o f people from their neigh
borhoods, w ould be an issue King
m ight address.
“ He fought against segregation,”
she said. “It's not as bad or prom i
nent, but it still goes on today.”
R e g is tra tio n fo r S pring T e rm 2 0 1 3
s ta r ts on Feb. 2 6 . C la s s e s b e g in A pril 1
believed in
a dream.
AtPCC
Cascade
C am p u s
we stand behind
that draam.
To learn more, call 971-722-8888,
log on to www.pcc.edu, or visit us at
705 N. Killingsworth Street.
Portland
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College
She added the thought that K ing
w ould help the different races in the
north and northeast Portland co m
munities focus on self sufficiency.
“T hat way, no one can push you
out the way. B ecause if you have the
skills and the education, there's no
way anyone can tell you w here you
Debbie Ezumah
can reside,” said the wom an.
D ebbie Ezum ah, 27, said the late
civil rights leader w ould probably be
concerned about privacy rights, men-
continued
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