This is one of the most powerful stories I have ever heard featuring a real black hero survivor in our community. I know this guy and no one exemplifies black community commitment, resilience, economic insight, and hard work than Tony Jones. If you don’t already know, he is a powerful force for good in our community and I am proud to be associated with his team.
I could not sleep the last few nights. Now that the MLK holiday is over I could not stop thinking about how over the years so many organizations, politicians and systems have been “Pimping” Kings’ legacy. I am emotional about it but I know Dr. King must be turning over in his grave. We have desecrated his name by allowing others to steal his purpose and compromise his mission. You have to ask yourself, would Dr. King be satisfied or approving of what we have accomplished since his death? I think not.
In Portland, we have an opportunity to realize part of Kings’ vision. But our leaders are still tinkering and sputtering and spouting empty plateaus even when the economic equity path forward is plain as day.
I wrote this about Dr. Kings’ holiday, hoping some local media outlets would print it. The Oregonian printed a short revised version which I appreciated but you need the full context. I would recommend all who see substance in this post would contact your local politicians and tell them to let us cash this check:
Portland Desperately Needs a Leader on the Rose Quarter Project
By: James Posey
Nothing is rosy in the City of Roses. Our house is on fire and our commissioners are nowhere to be found, nor have we heard of a plan to boost jobs and economic security in Portland.
Where’s the leadership from our government officials?
We are at a historic moment to capitalize on the largest federal infrastructure investment in our nation’s history, yet City of Portland bureaus have been told to withhold permit applications on the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project.
Contractors of color throughout the city have much to gain from the project, small business owners who have never worked on a government project will have a shot to grow their business qualifications, increase capacity, and create better-paying jobs right here in urban Portland, the historical core of the black community.
We need our governments as well as private industry to take responsibility by putting their money where their mouths are and uplifting our community with the opportunities, skill-building, and dollars that help to create and sustain intergenerational wealth.
Puttering is on the ballot this year, and it’s not a winning strategy. Those who talk intergenerational wealth and sleep while implementation opportunities languish should know they will be held accountable.
The Call
Leadership is admired by many, yet few actually live up to its status. Leadership is more than speaking up for a quick sound bite or news clip.
Leadership is taking a chance and trusting your intuition. Doing what’s right, not popular.
Where are the leaders in this town?
Mayor Wheeler, Portland commissioners, METRO, Multnomah County, we need you back at the table.
Governments officials from Oregon all the way to Washington DC have been peppered in words like “restorative justice” and “racial equity” when promoting infrastructure packages.
But what impacts do these words really mean for Black families in our region who have been locked out of economic opportunities for generations?
To the young climate activists, I hear you loud and clear, but you are reaping the benefits of generational privilege. Black people are disproportionately unemployed and struggling to make ends meet since the start of the COVID pandemic.
The 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom is alive and well.
Never has a project of this magnitude, overseen by ODOT, had a workforce advocate tasked with proactively identifying, recruiting, and helping place formerly incarcerated individuals and people of color with employers actively hiring. We found this innovative opportunity, on this project, with this contractor (Hamilton Sundt, in association with Raimore Construction). This aspect alone will prove the most meaningful in fulfilling the long-held promise of equal opportunity for living wage jobs.
In fact, 90 homicides, many young Black and Brown men and women, were reported in 2021 in Portland, a new high overshadowing the 70 homicides in 1987. I argue that this is also a real climate issue.
Ultimately what our children need right now are jobs, hope, and opportunities.
In his last speech before his assassination, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. left us with these parting words, “But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we’ve come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.”
The Rose Quarter Project is one of those checks, and it’s time to cash it.
I wish someone would tell the story of how hard life has been for black people just trying to make a living and exist in Oregon/Northwest. Today is Alvin Hall’s 78 birthday and I want to share that he and his Company ‘Rock and Road Construction” are the oldest black dump trucking firm in Oregon. Long story short, they are the forerunners of most of the work done by black dump trucking firms in Oregon. They embraced me when I tried to enter the industry 30 years ago. They tried to teach me and show me the ropes but I was hard-headed and it took a long time to learn. I love these guys because they epitomize the American dream, “Work Hard and God will bless you”. It did not always work out that way but it was beautiful dreaming despite the nightmares encountered by the racist systems blocking us. Alvin and his brother L.B. Anderson (now deceased) rescued me. I almost lost life trying to a unload a haul when this old Mack dump bed broke and crashed on the incline at this Troutdale I -84 interchange construction. Alvin was there to help me.
But the story is that Alvin had his 78th birthday today and we should all celebrate because he loves the black community and is truly a black pioneer with a heart of Gold.
The untimely issues raised around ODOT’s I-5 Rose Quarter construction project have caused me to consider deeper issues about Black folks in Portland. My question to our community: Who has historically benefitted from the many developments that we have seen, especially in N-NE Portland? I’m talking about the very developments that have further marginalized and scattered us as a people.
Just look around our community at the many construction projects that have helped gentrify our neighborhood and tell me who has benefited? So what makes you think that things will be different this time around when most of the players are white men who have done very little to truly aid and empower our community. Many of these people have profited greatly on the backs of the community, increasing their wealth through mixed-use, low-income housing developments that we were told would empower us and keep our people in the neighborhood.
Look around inner N/NE Portland and ask yourself one simple question: Did it work? And seriously, are we so naïve to think things will be different this time? In the ’80s, we had “Reaganomics” which showed that trickle-down economic theory did not work for black people. The rich became richer, and as a group, Black people are in worse shape now economically than we have ever been. But don’t get me wrong, I am pro-development if Black people control it at every level. This means it needs to be substantial enough that our community can capitalize, finance, build, own, and benefit from the generational wealth that it creates.
Unfortunately, we have always had many Judases in our community who are more than willing to sell us out for 30 pieces of something. Yes, the Black slave catchers still exist. And yes, there were actual house slaves that worked hand in hand with the master to further white superiority and supremacy. As a result, our people perished due to their lack of knowledge. Finally, it is time for people to wake up and look beyond the propaganda that is constantly being fed to them and realize that it is a psychological operation to further weaken us and keep us divided.
We need to stop depending on this governmental system, along with white benevolence, that by design is set up to keep us always wanting and thus in an inferior position. Your voices need to be heard now. Consider: economics through living-wage jobs and industry entrepreneurship has always been needed to establish and build a healthy and vibrant community. Black people must have a consistent means to bring dollars into their community. Once these dollars are in the community, we can then start the true re-building process by our own hands and create wealth by keeping those dollars circulating amongst ourselves. Hence the beauty and nail salons, barbershops, restaurants, art and entertainment venues, and other service-oriented businesses make up a healthy vibrant community, all flowing from a strong economic base.
Although it is not the only form for economic growth, the construction industry is critical to a community due to reduced barriers to entry without needing to incur much debt. Generally, all one needs to be successful is to show up consistently, have a positive attitude, and a good work ethic to establish a living-wage career. In addition, there are many professional positions that folks can grow into without a formal education, including becoming a business owner.
This country was built on the free labor of slaves who possessed many trade skills in 1865. I submit that the systemic policies put in place over the last 120 years transferred those skills from the Black population to the majority population along with much of the economics and wealth that has been created since emancipation.
Black people in Portland have not always understood that a bird in the hand is worth more than a bunch in the bush. And I pray that they don’t follow Dorthey down a yellow brick road and are smart enough to look behind the curtain and see who is pulling the strings. In other words, Black folks have a chance to go with an authentic black man and an organization with proven results focused on self-economic empowerment that is openly shared and designed to improve every aspect of Black life in Portland. I hope and pray we don’t blow it by following false prophets instead.
The Portland Branch of the NAACP is having a discussion Sunday 12:00 to 1 PM let your voices be heard.
Meeting link: Zoom link
Meeting ID: 889 6818 1081
Passcode: 312194
I normally don’t pay too much attention to birthdays on FB because I think it is one of FB’s biggest gimmicks. But at 75 I think I must thank God from whom all blessing flow. Although I have had tremendous lost in the last several Covid-19 months, God willing, I plan on moving to the next 75 years. I’m going to stop hanging sheetrock in the basement for today and just do a little grooving with the music and celebrate life with my beautiful family. Y’all can jam with me if want to. Here’s my first “Jam” which sums up how I feel at 75. I like this version but the original Gap Band cut is Dope too.
Thanks to my all family and friends for the many happy birthday wishes.
BTW. Please don’t say black don’t crack. Ask my knees, shoulders, neck and Sacroiliac.
JoAnn’s Chickens
I think I have some personal insights viewing your bleeding acknowledgment about your relationship with this alleged predator. You were repeatedly warned emphatically about evidence depicting the deceitful, deviant, disruptive, abusive behavior exhibited by this tragic individual. You chose to ignore the glaring evidence. Not only did you choose to ignore clear evidence, but you attempted to demonize those who brought corroborating information. Dismissing many as agitators and malcontents, and troublemakers. Now all of a sudden when chickens are coming home to roost you are feigning hurt and disappointment. Instead of listening to people who would tell you the truth early on, you stopped attending regular NAACP general meetings as if you were on some sort of elevated pedestal. You abandoning the real work of the organization that gave you the platform to become a City commissioner. What’s even worse is you manipulated the processes to install, promote, and glorify this person in the NAACP branch and the general body of politics. It’s like you were the gateway to legitimize all his perversion. You are complicit as if to spread a virus. As someone who has worked on your behalf and believed in you, I feel like a victim for trusting your judgment. And our community just needs to know, you are not the pure, moral, infallible leader you would have all of Portland to believe. Maybe you will learn from this and do better in the future but I am not holding my breath.
Wow, I have been wrestling with the choice of who to vote for in this City Council race. It has been very difficult for me for several reasons but, let’s face it, it’s a binary choice. I know Loretta’s weaknesses and strength but I don’t know Ryan who I understand was in charge of the Hands Raised a program to help close the achievement gap. Since the education achievement gap has not closed but has widened, I can’t see anything on his resume that makes me want to vote for him. Secondly, I would not like to have someone on City Council who is likely to have a ring in his nose being lead around by JoAnn Hardesty. She has already gotten too arrogant for my taste. Despite my concerns about Loretta’s questionable choices, holding grudges, and being full of herself, she is the best choice, particularly for the black community.
