Portland observer., December 27, 2017, Page Page 4, Image 4

Page 4
December 27, 2017
in
Portland Observer Year Review
Looking back at top stories of 2017
Resilience and Triumph
Feb. 8 -- The Billy Webb Elks Lodge, a historic center of Portland’s black community,
embarks on a membership drive to bring new lift to the longtime community space
that was born from Portland’s segregated past and is a key social landmark today.
Resistance
Jan. 25 –With some contentious standoffs between demonstrators and Portland
police, tens of thousands join a broad coalition of civil rights and progressive
groups to resist the newly installed Trump administration by spilling onto the streets
for a weekend of protests and discontent.
‘I Marched in Selma’
Feb. 22 – Celebrating
Black History Month,
J.J. Moore, longtime
owner of Affordable
JJ Lock and Key in
northeast Portland,
recalls the beatings
and arrests he faced
when he participating
in the historical
Selma to Montgomery
marches 52 years
ago.
Our
Contaminated
Harbor
March 8 – The
community gets an
update on plans to
cleanup 11 miles
of contaminated
waters and shoreline
along the Willamette
River. The Portland
Harbor Superfund site
addresses a century
of toxic dumping and
unhealthy wildlife.
Growing the Brand
Best in State
March 15 – Jefferson High School celebrates winning a
state basketball championship, the ninth in school history,
after a 70-67 win against Clackamas High School.
March 22 – Jamaal Lane, a
long time barber and founder of
Champions Barbershop grows
his brand by opening Champions
Barbering Institute, a vocational
school for training barbers at 424
N.E. Killingsworth St.
Priced Out
April 12 – As rental and housing prices continue to rise, Portland’s black
community is being hit hard in the struggle to stay housed. “When it rains
for Americans, it’s pouring for black Americans,” said Denetta Monk,
housing specialist with the Urban League of Portland.
Mayor on the Issues
April 26 – New Mayor Ted
Wheeler lays out his vision
on housing affordability,
police reform and other
topics during a visit to the
offices of the Portland
Observer, Oregon’s
longest serving minority
publication.
Reo’s Ribs Up in Flames
May 10 – Reo’s Ribs is boarded
up after an overnight fire guts the
landmark building at Northeast
42nd and Sandy Boulevard.
African-American business
owner Reo Varnado speculated
that the fire, started outside the
building, could have been racially
motivated.