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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2011)
local news theatre “challenging People to Shape a better future now” While holding discussions on race and similar issues isn’t new to the center (whose full name is the John Perkins Center for Reconciliation, Leadership Training and Community Development), Warren said that the play will allow people who are not normally drawn to these events to engage in the conversa- tion. “When we hold these events, usually you have people who self- select,” she said. But now, Lowe hopes to attract a more diverse audience to mix with Taproot’s seasonal ticket holders, similar to what happened when the playhouse put on “Gee’s Bend” several years ago. The play told the story of a group of African American quiltmakers from the Alabama town known, in the real world, for their most impressive sewing and patchwork skills. “Brownie Points” by Janece Shaffer runs through June 18 Wednesdays and Thursdays at b ernie f OSter Founder/Publisher b Obbie D Ore f OSter executive editor t eD b anKS advertising Manager J erry f OSter account executive l iSa l OVing news editor b rian S timSOn reporter D aViD K iDD graphic Designer m Onica J. f OSter Seattle office Coordinator J ulie K eefe S uSan f rieD Photographers Faith russell, amy love, casi wilkerson, and nikki Visel in ‘Brownie Points’ at the taproot theatre. 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Visit http://taproottheatre.org. New Caledonia for training. During a standdown on the island – Jones’ all Black 810th and 811th Engineer Aviation bat- talions were assigned to build bridges. A weapon carrier fell on an unsuspecting troop, pinning him. “We had all sorts of equipment, we could have pulled the truck off him,” he said. An officer came over and said we can’t get it off him. “He pulled out his pistol and shot him in the head,” says Jones. If anyone were to ask, ordered the officer, the murdered troop died in battle. “What can you do when you’re a million miles from home,” Jones asked. “They shot this kid and we could’ve gotten him out. I thought that was dirty. I don’t know if he’s living now, but I doubt it” Jones says he never saw that officer again and thinks that he probably was killed in action. In Guadalcanal, Jones says that it was hot, humid and full of mos- quitoes. It’s not like the ships were any better. He said that on one carrier, the head had over- flowed sewage into the sleeping quarters, causing many soldiers to sleep on deck. “You couldn’t get any rest,” he said. There were weeks when the entire unit would go without food. The White officers told the Black soldiers it was because their food had been lost at sea, but Jones said he knew they were lying. He’d seen the pits where tons of food had been dumped. “I started going to different tribes on the island to get food,” he said. “Fish and chicken. It wouldn’t help completely, but it was something.” Iwo Jima was the big battle, he says. “Our main objective was to keep the airstrip open,” he said. Vet The Skanner Newspaper, estab shed n October 975, s a week y pub ca- t on, pub shed each Wednesday by IMM Pub cat ons Inc , 4 5 N K ngsworth St , P O Box 5455, Port and, OR 97228 Te ephone (503) 285-5555 E-ma : info@theskanner.com Wor d W de Web s te: http://www theskanner.com Fax: (503) 285-2900 the Skanner s a member of the Nat ona Newspaper Pub shers Assoc at on and West Coast B ack Pub - shers Assoc at on A photos subm tted become the prope ty of the Skanner We are not re - spon s b e for ost or damaged photos e ther so c ted or unso c ted continued from page 1 join the armed forces. There was also another reason. “Money,” he said. “We didn’t have no money in those days. It was during the depression.” Graduating high school from a rural area in Kansas, his mother wouldn’t let him join right away. Finally, at the age of 19, he enlist- ed in Coffeeville, Kansas and was sent to basic training in Fort Leonard Wood. “Just before basic was finished, war broke out,” he said. “We were shipped out the next day to the South Pacific.” Heading through the Panama Canal, onto Australia, Jones and his crewmates finally landed on © 2010 the Skanner A R GH S R S RV D R PRODUC ON N WHO OR N PAR W HOU P RM SS ON PROH B D c PhOtO cOurteSy eriK Stuhaug continued from page 1 o m m u n I t y c a l e n d Read the rest online at www.theskanner.com a r S eattle J une 2011 If you have an event you want to share with the community, email it two weeks in advance to The Skanner at info@theskanner.com Wednesday & thursday June 1 & 2 the 2011 wits stuDent reaDings & celeBrations! Free & open to the public. emceed by DJ riz rollins of keXP. the readings feature 50 students from 27 sites in the 2010-11 wits program. Both days start at 6 p.m. the seattle Public library Downtown seattle. thursday June2 Page 2 The Seattle Skanner June 1, 2011 south seattle communitY college hosts congress oF racial eQualitY (core) historY Presentation: Four original and active members of core will share their eyewitness accounts and observations as they tell this story. this event is free and open to all. noon – 1:30 p.m. olympic hall theater. south seattle community college, 6000 16th ave s.w. friday June 3 the seattle PuBlic liBrarY Presents a Free screening oF sentenceD home. teens are invited to a free screening of the documentary film sentenced home from 5 to 8 p.m. at the rainer Vista neighborhood house, 4410 29th ave. s. Sunday June 5 komen Puget sounD health eXPo: the komen Puget sound health expo sets the stage for an exciting race for the cure weekend. Free samples, showcase of new running and sports apparel. Free and open to the public. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. seattle center, 305 harrison st. Wednesday June 8 Young PlaYwright’s FestiVal 2011! new plays from south shore school and cleveland high school in staged readings with professional actors. 3:30 p.m. rainier Valley cultural center, 3315 s. alaska st. Free but will accept a donation at the door. Saturday June 11 the seattle PuBlic liBrarY inVites chilDren anD teens to ParticiPate in a scaVenger hunt! ages 8 to 18 are able to participate. the scavenger hunt is free and open to all kids. 2 – 4 p.m. at the north east Branch, 6801 35th ave. ne.
