The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1947-06-11
EDWIN c. BERRY, Ex-secretar
Urban League of Portland

Congratulations graduates, you
have come a long way and we are
proud of you. Keep going
Some of you have plans for col
lege or additional training. Good.
we need more well trained people
our leaders of tomorrow. Some
of you are uncertain, you are ask
ing yourself this questions, What
chance have |, the darker brother,
for a decent job in this prejudiced
world?" Others of you are frustrat-
ed, bitter and have made up your
mind that there is nothing in store
for you, but dirty lowly work at
meager pay.
I'll string along with the first
bunch-those kids with hope and
plan. When | say to You The
future is yours-plan and prepare
I'm not just saying words-this
is what | mean. In spite of handi-
caps and discrimination there is
chance for you--a good chance
If you will get the training and
become eminently well prepared in
your chosen field of work. Not
half pIepared--well prepared.
It's easy for us to grumble and
"Cry the blues" mot to be con-
fused with singing the blues). To
say I'm a Negro there's no use
of me trying. is an excuse-an
easy way out-that's the cowardly
way, but it does not get us any
where.
How do you suppose George
Washington Carver, Marion Ander-
son, Paul Robson, Jesse Owens,
Joe Louis, Jackie Robinson, Duke
Ellington reached their achieve
ments? By quitting? Not by a long
shot-by fighting, working, refus-
ing to be demoralized, by testing
their strength, not simply against
Negroes, but against the world.
They and thousands of other Ne
groes have beat Jim Crow and you
can do it too-if you will.
Some of you have been already
demoralized. Some have been made
to feel ashamed that you are Ne
gro Americans. say to you HOLD
UP YOUR HEADS. God is the
author of all mankind. "Of one
blood and for one purpose did he
create all" If some white bigots
would say or do things that wound
your soul, pass it off as ignorance
and pursue you course. For when
you let race batting and race hate
get you down, you've scored a
point for their side-and that's
not the object of the game.
These are examples of success
In Portland also. not as many
as we would like. but some never
theless. You all know DR.. De-
Norval Unthank. He is unusually
successful both as physician and
a member of the community. He
is regarded as a number one as
set-not as a Negro, but as a
citizen. You know DIR. Joyner and
DR.. Vickers, both young men who
have worked their way through
college and professional school
We have Negroes who are working
as teachers, nurses and social
workers. A Negro engineer at Bon
neville Power; a laboratory tech
nician at Emanuel Hospital, as
draftman at the Beaver Company,
recreation and community workers
for Portland Housing Authority
and an executive with Vancouver
Housing Authority. A Negro is the
manager of a local Chevron Gas
Station; shop foreman in Flynn
Body Shop; as head bookkeeper
for a car sales company. The
secretaries and office workers are
legion and many more could have
been placed If real QUALIFIED
workers were available. So you see
we are ON the move and we will
keep going if you are ready with
training, skills and proper attitu-
des, when it is time for you to
go to k-REMEMBER = THE
FUTURE is YOURS-PLAN AND
PREPARE.
Here is my philosophy on race
relations. It has helped me over
many though spots. Maybe it will
helm Won too