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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 17, 1963)
Negroes in Oregon EDITOR'S NOTE: Housing and i Jobs are two of the most scnsi- j live areas in the Negro's drive j for equal rights. Oregon is no i exception. What is the situation j In this slate? Is the Negro making any progress in break tng out of the segregated hous ing pattern, where it exists, and changing the traditional atti tudes that have limited him mostly to unskilled jobs? The following dispatch, the second of two, explores these areas. By GORDON RICE United Press Internationa! Malloroy Carter, 52, runs a five-chair shoeshine stand on Portland's Broadway. He came to the Northwest from Briming ham, Ala. "I hope we are to be treated for what we are as individual persons, not for our color," he says. His plea is echoed by Nathan .lones, a 25-year-old Lewis and Clark College student who was involved in charges of discrimi nation against the city Parks Bureau last spring. "We want a fair opportunity to prove ourselves and be con sidered as first class citizens," he contends. "I hope the Negro will be able to walk these United States with dignity and without any pro scriptions placed upon him be cause of his race." agrees Jim my (Bang-Bang) Walker, a for mer professional fighter and now editor of the weekly North west Defender newspaper. This is the avowed goal ot the Negro in Oregon just as it is : across t h e nation, and two of the most frequently mentioned j means to that goal also are the lame jobs and housing. Portland has Negroes of 112 of Its 118 census tracts, but 80 per cent of its estimated 16.500 Negroes live in five tracts in the '(" 8w) m 86 PROOF KENTUCKY TAVERN MEDICI'S BEST PREMIUM SOURBON. PROUDLY PRESENTED BY GlENMOPi 0TST. SjifjJ coMpmr. lOuisviiiE-owENSBORO. Kentucky. . ..yer-eilo Kentucky stmight Sarajty BOURBON WHISKEY, B6 PROOF: ALSO HVWUBLE IN 100 PR00E BOTUEO-1N-B0N0. INSURANCE - SMITHS Fred R. Brennan, CIA "Mr. Insurance" UNLESS WE CHECK FOR YOU, YOU'LL NEVER KNOW how much we can save you by packaging your personal or business policiesl Your insurance money will be spent as carefully as we spend our own. SAVE WITH Medford Insurance Agency The R. A. Holmes Agency , 'The Insurance Center" 25 West Main Street Dial 773-7343 772-4444 As near at your telephona MEDICINE Personal Prescriptio Anytime - DAY or NIGHT! Because sickness never punches ! time clock . . . our prescription service works for you twenty-four hours a day. Your health and well being are our first concern. The next time you are in need of mediation, no matter what the time or day or night, stop in or call. You can pick it up in less time than take to 'ell. Why not write down our phone number now? 772-2330 Your Headquarters for Greeting Card! Cosmetics Party A Wedding Supplies Gifts Veterinarian Supplies Your Charge Account Invited Store Hour; 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Albina district. Eliot elementary , school is 99 per cent Negro, Boise school is 90 per cent Ne- gro and Humboldt and Highland each have 85 per cent. Jeffer- son High School's enrollment is ; 55 per cent Negro. Residents of the Albina area live in housing which ranges from slums to pleasant middle class level. A plan by the Hous ing Authority of Portland to clean up some of the slums and build low-cost housing was op Dosed and finally killed by some Negro groups, backed by other church and civil rights organi zations. They said the plan would per petuate a Negro ghetto in Al bina. Little Gain in Housing "There has been less gain in housing than in any other area of race relations," says E. Shel ton Hill, executive secretary of the Portland Urban League. "The situation is not as good as it was six or eight vcars ago." The thing that bothers Hill is that the Negro neighborhood is a recent development, not one that has its roots in history, as in the South. In 1940 the few Negroes in Portland were spread out in 57 of the 59 cen sus tracts. "Realtors are still using the old dodges," maintains Mayfield K. Webb, president of the Port land Chapter of the National As sociation for the Advancement of Colored People, but he ad mits this is only part of the problem. "We have reached the public and expelled some of their fears. The test will be to have Negroes buying homes, but how are you going' to do this if thev don't have the money?" he asks. Pendleton offers another ex ample. That city has only about 150 Negroes in a total popula- B6 PROOF $5.65 Vi QT.-Code 136-B $3.60 PINT-Code 136-C Taste what extra age can do- taste that flavor through .-A and through! Lowell A. Iverion "Mr. Homeowners" WHEN YOU n Service Dial 772-2330 West Main Pharmacy "DICK'S DANDY DRUGS" Whert prticriptioni art tilled UP to t itandard, net DOWN la a price! I3S W. Mtin it Grape-Ph. 772-2330 tion of 14.474. vet almost all of them live in a lower class south-1 west neighborhood. j Seven real estate agencies ! deny they practice racial bias;! thev sav thev have no NeEro buyers because the Negroes simply don't have enough mon- ey to make the payments on a nice new house in the suburbs. One Negro family did buy a house in an all-white neighbor hood. There were some com plaints, but no incidents. Klamath Falls and Eugene al so have developed lower class Negro living areas. Barries Must Come Down "The apparent fact that many Negroes prefer to live in their own community rather than face the prejudices and economic barriers against those Negroes who do want to get out and who have the economic means to do so," Gov. Mark Hatfield said re cently. Efforts also are being made to upgrade conditions within the Negro communities. The out standing example is the Albina Neighborhood Improvement Pro ject in Portland. Residents of a 96-acre racially-mixed area, assisted by the Portland Development Commis sion and federal money, have undertaken to improve their community. They are repairing streets, improving their homes, building parks, planning better lighting and planting trees. The Development Commission will counsel homeowners and assist them in applying for government-guaranteed home repair loans. Homes beyond repair will be purchased by the commission and razed, and their owners as sisted in finding new homes. Two large blocks have been set family Council Idimr'! Note: The mmllv Conn. II conslrls nl a luriec. a rtsvehia- I idfcr?.tf,m;trT:Sit;rn7naPYw"!lhem in the Portland area. One ?rr"a"' a't'uai 'cas'" ft sor"1"nThi! ' 's an 'nlcrv'ewer. another an council "fJSiirts0 Vn probijm, .ha" '. installer, and still others hold nav nrtn aeau wim ny respon sible acenrtrs and counselors. (Conyrltht 1963 General Features Corp.) Mrs. G.Y. I'll be petrified if Hugh gets a gun for Christ . mas. I Mr. G.Y. My uncle will en- i 1 roll him in a club that teaches safety. Mrs. G.Y. By the merest I chance I spotted a gun catalog j in our trash can and questioned my husband about it. He con ! fessed that he's ordering an air rifle as a Christmas present for our 10-year-old son. How could he? He knows I don't want to be within a mile of firearms. To me they represent violence, cruelty and death. Mr. G.Y. I didn't know how to tell my wife about this and I'm glad she brought it up with The Council as referee. She has no concept of the wholesome side of guns, for sport, marks manship, hunting. My uncle be longs to a rifle club and I joined him at a range one Sunday. There were boys as young as eight, and even girls, taking les sons. The Council: Well, Mrs. Y., a fishing-rod can represent cruel ty, and a racing-car can repre sent catastrophe and death. All depends upon who's using it, where, on wnom, ana now care fully. When a pistol kills a ven- i omous snake before it buries its fangs in a man, it represents rescue. Let's put it this way: We too are for non-violence, but olive branches don't usually make an exciting gift for a kid. Also, ignorance is never an ad- i vantage and Hugh might as well know the right way to handle a gun as part of his ultimate bundle of skills. If the rifle be comes the symbol of camarad- ' erie among Hugh, his dad, and his sportsman great-uncle, it's ' a worthwhile acquisition. Most : important, however, Mr. Y. ' should sign Hugh up in a Jr. Rifle Club where boys learn from the start that guns are not toys. On the plus side, Mrs. Y., your son will have a tool to de velop his control and coordina- ; tion, and you'll all get out to the ' woodlands more often. NEED IT! - . X Dick Clan I MEDKORD Want Fair Opportunity To asirlp for expected to be $1,798,261, of which two-third will be provided by the federal government, A study of the effects of racial imhalanee in the irra's schools also is under way. The goal is to increase the value of their homes and make living a little more pleasant for Negroes who can t or don t want to leave. The picture is brighter for the Negro in jobs than it is in hous ing, although the degree is the subject of considerable debate. Most of Oregon's Negroes hold unskilled, low - paying, menial jobs. There are some profes sional people. In between, in the skilled salaried jobs, a great voice has existed. "These areas were closed for so long that it seems to me we lost two or three generations," Webb says. The problem of un-der-employment is minor in Ore gon compared to some other sections of the country: there are no Ph. D's working as clerks, but Webb points out there are men washing cars who could be working on the waterfront. The construction and metals industries have cmuloycd Ne groes for some time. After strong pressure and the threat of demonstrations, the Interna tional Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union has en rolled some Negroes, but the NAACP refused to claim a vic tory until it sees how regularly the Negroes work. "We've got a long-standing quarrel with most of Portland's union," Webb says. Negroes are finding employ ment as retail clerks, especially in grocery chains, and there is slow, unspectacular improve ment in other fields. One of the slate's largest em ployers of Negroes is Pacific Northwest Bell, which has made a conscious effort to seek them out. An estimated 70 to 75 Ne- Bs are among iciepnone uom- nanv's 5 WW pmnlnvps. most nf positions as operators, account ing and clerical workers, teen nicians and maintenance work- crs- Negroes Lack Training As it is across the country, lack of training is a big handi cap to Negroes looking for jobs. There are no programs set up exclusively for them. The Urban League's employ ment bureau has had more re quests for clerical workers, en gineers and accountants than it can fill, but these are skills that are scarce nationally in both races. The Urban League re cently established a Skills Bank in Portland to assist in match-1 Dennis the Menace 'Boy! 1 wish fMmm como Gifts of Leather Prince and Princess Gardner Billfolds Skyway Buxton GIFTS FOR EVERYONE! OPEN EVERY NIGHT UNTIL 9 INCLUDING SATURDAY, DEC, 21 "Thn Stora of I Thouund Thoughtful Gifts" MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD, ing job seekers with employers. Some professions, notably so- cial work and teaching, are be- coming increasingly popular, Negroes are showing up in the school systems of many cities were there are few others of their race. Coos Bay, Madras, Estacada and St. Paul have them. "What happened was that these places were just recruit ing teachers and these hap pened to turn up," says Hill. He feels that if people are will ing to entrust their children's education to a Negro teacher they should be willing to accept other members of his race in less sensitive areas. Nature Often Plays Tricks To Protect Some Animals There are many of Nature's subjects that look like what they are not. For obvious rea sons Nature designed some of her children to exactly repre sent some other creature, and placed them in the same en vironment, even endowed them with similar habits and char acteristics. In the insect world mimicry is carried to its farthest point, often faithfully duplicating the original and genuine. A star tling example is the "measur ing worm" which, when alarm ed, raises itself from the twig and looks exactly like the small plant branch. The body of the worm takes the position ot the leaf stem, even its color is much the same as the twig on which it rests. The "walking insect" resem bles a dead twig, both in color and shape. The deception is so perfect that very few of us ever see this peculiar creature, in spite of the commonness of them. The natural enemy, too of the walking stick, is fooled. Just about everyone is fa miliar with the piercing noise of the Katydid on warm sum mer night. Yet it requires a sharp eye to pick out the light, green ' insect in the mass of green foliage. The whippoorwill sitting in the woodland path looks more like a slump of dead leaves than a bird. Nature planned it exact ly that way. The brown mark ings on the quail so perfectly see ya now. m bet sue i--n and American Tourist Luggage Jewel Boxes OREGON However, many Negroes are caught in the same vicious cir- cle that afflicts those in other parts of the country. They have few skills and cannot get good- paying jobs; because of lack of money they are forced to live in a substandard Negro com munity; and because of com munity conditions, their chil dren do not stay in school and learn skills that would enable them to get better jobs. In Gov. Hatfield's words: "Where to you break into the circle? You don't. We must con- tinue to shave the circumfer ence. In the meantime, these ef forts to "shave" are being Small Worlds Around Us By LYNN M. W ATKINS (laf ftf and Tribllftt) Srdlcale 1943) match the surroundings as to make the bird almost invisible. The woodcock, until it flies, is a part of the forest floor. Many creatures seem to know in what environment their col oration is most effective, and react accordingly. Many ani mals, in the face of danger, freeze into immobility and es cape detection. Place the same animal in different surround ings and it will attempt flight, rather than risk exposure. Some are so colored as to simplify their food gathering. This we call "aggressive" col oration. The stripes of the ti ger resemble the lights and shadows of the jungle floor. The spots of the leopard, resemble sunlight. Alligators look like logs; and their eyes, the knots. Protective mimicry is the result of a slow process which has gone on for millions of years. The "mimics" are al ways fewer than the ones imi tated. Females are more likely to be thus protected, probably because of their slower move ments when laden with eggs or young. Mimicry is operative, even in the depths of the sea; fishes are dark colored above and light colored underneath. To the birds above, the dark looks like the bottom ot the sea or dark water. To enemies below, they resemble the sky. By many and various ways does Nature continue the spe cies, even resorting to misrep resentation and creating condi tions and creatures to look like what they are not. Crack Canadian Train Derailed KAMLOOPS, B. C. (UPI) The Canadian National Rail ways' (CNR) crack Super Continental train derailed near here Monday as it headed west on the last leg of a trip from Montreal of Vancouver, B.C. No fatalities were reported hut at least four persons wore injured, and a number of others suffered shock. A railway spokesman said 10 of the train's IB cars left the tracks. Cause of the derailment was not immediately known. Traffic on the CNR's main line was re-routed. A CNR spoeksman said the diesel locomotive stayed on the tracks, while the first 10 cars derailed. The remaining eight passenger cars, and the bag gage and mail cars, were not derailed. The train is one of the best known in Canada. brought more and more to the attention of white Oregonians, with varving Tactions, "The Negro has been going too slow for 100 years," savs Portland attorney John R. Faust Jr. "The contrast between their non-violent demonstrations and the violence of their opponents heightens an impression of the justice of the Negro cause." "I feel he (the Negro) is being pushed by the authorities," com ments a Portland housewife. "Go slow. Take it easy." Fewer people say, as did one Beaverton resident, "I cannot see any cllect (of the civil rights controversy ) on me or i my family." Starlings Ignore Chasing Efforts ATLANTA (UPI)-Slate offi cials put on a great show of force Monday but lost another round in their battle to dis lodge thousands of starlings from the Capitol. Eight selected marksmen fired shotguns into the swarm ing birds for 20 minutes, killing an estimated 2,000. But one dis couraged official remarked "that didn't even dent them." The pesky birds picked the Georgia Capitol for their win ter roost and come in at night, defacing the Capitol. Secretary of State Ben Fort son tried various means of get ting rid of the birds, before hitting on the sholgun approach. "The idea is not so much to kill them as to scare them," he said. "We let them settle down good in the trees and get com fortable and then we blast away anil keep them moving." Fortson's men downed some ; 5,000 starlings in forays last week, and hoped another ses sion might convince the birds that they've not welcome. But it appears to he a losing struggle. "So far, we mighl as well have put a sign out front that says no starlings allowed, he said. Mental Health Workshop Held Five Jackson and Josephine County members of the Mental Health Association attended the Oregon meeting recently in Sa lem. Speaker for (he workshop was Dr. Howard Gurevitz, San Ma teo. Cain., chier of mental health consultation, information and education service of San Mateo County menial health de partment. The speaker stressed the util-1 ization of local "caretakers" physicians, teachers, lawyers, j law enforcement and probation ; officers as the front line do-1 fense in preventive mental health. ! Attending from Jackson Coun- j ty were Dr. Frank M. Wilson, j Donna Gilkey, the Rev. Fred rick R. Evans, and from Jos ephine County Bernice Bcnja- mine and Dave Gould. Hunt for Survivors Of Shipwreck Fails TAMPICO, Mexico (UPU Pnlice searched the shores south ot here today for the missing four-man crew of the B0-ton ship Oro Beccrro, found wrecked at nearby A.ul Beach. Searchers feared the men fell victim to the sharks which abound in the area. The ship foundered in a storm. LUTEFISK Fancy Center Cut Frozen lb. LEFSE 55 Pkg. Jumbo Crabs 59 .. Sea Bass Fillets 59c lb. Petrale Sole Fillets 79c lb. Ocean Fresh Fillets Rock Cod, Red Snapper Pacific Perch lb. 49 TlKSOAY, DECEMRER IT, 196.1 Prove Try and Stop Me By BENNETT CERF rpHERE'S a darling little -L Island who's giving her Her interest in life seems to subject: clothes. Arith metic, history, and liter- ature she disdains. AH she does is pore through the fashion magazines. One evening, however, she came home from her progressive school and casually reported that the class had been told the facts of life in the new "The Stork Didn't Bring You" manner. "At last," thought the gratified father, "my daughter has acquired a new interest in life." Eyes alight, he asked her, "Aren't there any ques-, ' tions at all about the things you heard today that, you want to ask Mommy and Daddy?" "One," replied the daughter promptly. "Just what does a girl wear for that?" A younrr Southern helte naked her mother, "What do you give a man who has everything?" Her mother answered unhesitating, ly, "Encouragement." There's a hoodlum In Jersey City who has so much Influents that when a prison rap finally wu pinned on him, the warden gave him an unlisted number. O 1963, by Bennett Cerf. Dlitrlbuted by Klnc Features Syndicate. '' A TRIBUTE TO ladies' VJyler Incaflex yellow or whits 10K RGP. Very petite, matching expansion band. beautiful I n c a f I e x This year, give a gift that will be remembered through the years.' A handsome men's or ladies' jeweled lever Wyler Incaflex quality watch. A style for every taste, a price for every budget. All Wyler Incaflex watches are guaranteed waterproof, shock resistant and have a guaranteed unbreakable mainspring. Come see the wide selection you can choose from. Ordinary balanca whttl -mid scorn relay Ihockl straight to vital balance mechanism. Prices Start BULK OYSTERS EiS sV."c.y 95c ICELAND SALT HERRING rZL, 69c REX SOLE or SAND DABS ,b 59c Order Your FRESH NORBEST TURKEY SOON! Available Christmas Week Monday and Tuesday FITTS Seafood & Poultry 131 W. 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