Black
Cinema Lens
A screening
of short films
exploring identity
QR code for
Portland Observer
Online
See story, page 11
‘City of Roses’
Volume XLV
Number 14
www.portlandobserver.com
Wednesday • April 6, 2016
Blazer
Legend Hired
Terry Porter to
coach at University
of Portland
See story, page 8
Established in 1970
Committed to Cultural Diversity
Some of the top blues, R&B and soul artists in Portland, (clockwise from left) Norman Sylvester and his daughter Lenanne-Sylvester-Miller, LaRhonda Steele and MC
Shoehorn, headline the ‘Healing the Health Care Blues’ Inner City Blues Festival to advocate for universal, publically funded health care.
Healing the Health Care Blues
Annual concert
puts issue and
need in focus
M ichael l eighton
P ortland o bserver e ditor
A Portland blues festival historically
rooted in civil rights and social justice caus-
es is once again putting its focus on sup-
porting a campaign to bring universal health
coverage to everyone.
The 5th annual Inner City Blues Festival,
“Healing the Health Care Blues,” will be
held Saturday, April 16 at the North Port-
by
land Eagles Lodge, with profits from the
show supporting Health Care for All Ore-
gon, a statewide coalition of 120 organiza-
tions and over 15,000 people advocating for
universal, publically funded health care.
Portland blues, R&B and soul legend
Norman Sylvester, a major backer of the
cause and one of the performers for the
show, describes how people are suffering
because the system of health insurance still
leaves many people out.
This year in Oregon, an estimated
300,000 people still lack access to health in-
surance even under the Affordable Care Act,
also dubbed “Obamacare,” a program that
pays health insurance subsidies based on in-
come, but can carry high monthly charges
and big deductibles for many.
“Last year we raised over $24,000 to
support our growing campaign,” Sylvester
said. “We need to continue to reach all cor-
ners of our state so that one day Oregon’s
publically-funded health care will become a
reality.”
The diverse lineup of participating art-
ists is a stellar showcase of some of the
best talent in Portland. Two stages of
entertainment will include the Norman
Sylvester Band, Terry Robb and Marilyn
Keller, the Bloco Alegria Dancers and
Drum troupe, LaRhonda Steele, Shoehorn
and the Mad as Hell Doctors, Northwest
Women in Blues and more. Progressive ra-
dio host Carl Wolfson will briefly explain
how the U.S. healthcare system has failed
us and how to make a change. Paul Knauls
and Renee Mitchell, leaders of Portland’s
African American community, will also
participate.
What is universal or “single-payer”
health care? Simply put, it is Medicare for
all Americans from birth to their final days.
It would eliminate the Affordable Care
Act, Medicaid, CHIP, and private medical
insurance.
Proponents say under this system 95 per-
cent of American households would come
out financially ahead. Patients would go to
the doctor or hospital of their choice.
c ontinued on P age 5