Journey to Freedom to Host Malcolm X Birthday Weekend
| May 17, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism |
While Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is a widely celebrated national holiday, there is considerably less fanfare for the birthdate of Black icon Malcolm X. “We don’t see events that honor him like Dr. King,” says Karanja Crews, founder of the Journey to Freedom Project (JTF). As a response, JTF is hosting its Malcolm…
NPR’s Michele Norris Graces YWCA’s Inspire Luncheon
| May 15, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism |
When National Public Radio host Michele Norris came to Portland last Wednesday to address the YWCA Inspire Luncheon, she focused on the pressing issues of racism and domestic violence. In her keynote speech before the multiracial crowd of YWCA supporters, Norris talked about an online initiative she started called The Race Card Project, in which…
Chaplain Maj. Trisa Kelly: Making History in Oregon — Again
| May 8, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism |
Trisa Kelly is surprised she is making history. “I’m amazed that in 2012 you can still be a first Black anything,” she says. Last month, Kelly was named to Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ (ODVA) governor-appointed Veterans’ Affairs Advisory Committee — the first Black woman to be appointed, and the youngest to serve. She was…
Portland Urban League Forum Brings Black Vote to Forefront
| May 3, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism |
The Black vote took the forefront last Tuesday at the “Countdown to Election Day: Candidates Forum on Equity and Accountability.” Lack of representation, funding for programs that have an impact on communities of color and accountability were the defining issues of the evening. The Urban League of Portland (ULPDX), the African American Alliance and the…
My turn: Essay on racism in Lake Oswego prompts wide-ranging response
| April 29, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism, Musings |
When I wrote a personal essay about racist tweets among students at Lake Oswego High School (“Lake Oswego’s worst-kept secret,” published March 17 in The Oregonian), I never expected such an outpouring of responses. The nickname “Lake No Negro” is known in many circles, and yet many people were shocked and frustrated to learn institutional…
54 Hours + Your New Business Plan = Portland Startup Weekend
| April 28, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism |
When Jeff Martens came to Portland Startup Weekend (PDXSW) two years ago, he had left his last employer and was looking for a fresh start. “I was going to look for a job but then I thought it would be great if I could start my own business instead of getting a job with someone…
Occupy North East, We Are Oregon, Rep. Lew Frederick Host Ainsworth Foreclosure Forum
| April 19, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism |
Instead of enjoying a sunny Sunday afternoon, members of Occupy North East (ONE) – a.k.a. ‘The Black Working Group,’ We Are Oregon and Ainsworth United Church of Christ (UCC) came together to discuss foreclosure and how churches can get involved. “Our position is that the struggle has to emanate from the ground up,” says Ahjamu…
Canary Moratorium: Stop Snitching on Yourselves
| April 19, 2012 | Posted by admin under Musings |
As a concerned citizen, I’m calling for a moratorium on people of color snitching on ourselves. If social media has done anything, it has revolutionized the art of snitching. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc., people have found new and creative ways to save police and employers hours of detective work. Perhaps the most concentrated…
“Shot with a Pistol and/or Rifle”
| April 16, 2012 | Posted by admin under Musings |
While the world, or at least the social media universe, was fixated on Coachella and the Tupac hologram, I spent the early hours glued to the Anders Breivik trial. If there is anything that represents the “Face of evil”, it’s Breivik. Last year he went on a shooting spree in Norway, killing 77 people and…
New Article: Jailin Gage: How One Teen Puts School and Sports Together
| April 16, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism |
The first thing that stands out about Jefferson High School guard Jailin Gage is his humility. “I don’t want to put everything on me,” he says, with his father Johnnie and brother Johnnie Jr. at his side. Gage, who is also an honor roll student, led the school’s freshman basketball team to an undefeated season…
