The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1949-05-25

nation as fundamental to any
lasting progress In the arena Of
race relations.
PRESENT SCENE
In 1913, Portland had won for
itself the distinction of Nations
Most Improved City in Race Re
lations". l must caution my read
ers at this point that the discrip-
ton most improved" should not
be confused with best. We
know we are not the best" But
best" is our goal and we are
moving steadily and with dog
ged determination toward that
goal.
Here follows a partial delinea-
ton of the reason we have won
our new title in a span OF but
three years;
ON THE JOB FRONT: Negroes
have secured employment in more
than four hundred establishments
which did not employ them prior
to 1916. Negroes are working on
all levels OF civil service and are
consistently securing added union
status. Among the better positions
which have been filled by quail
flied Negro workers are; public
school teachers: one instructor on
the college level: laboratory tech
nicians; hospital nurses, social
workers; and a public welfare
supervisor. Innumerable secreta-
ries have been placed ESQ many,
In fact, that we have exhausted
the supply, and job orders still
continue). as well as the multi
tude of opportunities for skilled
artisans and unskilled jobs.
HOUSING FIELD
Portland has progressed in the
housing field not withstanding
the code of ethics" Of the Real
ty Board and its attempts at
rigid segregation on non-white
minorities in an old, worn out
section of the city. The boundary
lines have been broken. Realtors
have been forced to revise the
limits on several occasion and
the expansion cntinues. During
the past twelve months more
than one hundred families have
purchased decent homes outside
the area which realtors had de-
signed for Negro occupancy. This
was accomplished by purchase
from real estate dealers = not
realtors" or directly from
owner.
Another important step toward
indignation in housing has been
the breaking of rigid segregation
by the Portland Public Housing
Authority. The present enunciated
policy is first come, first serv-
ed" and though this policy has
not yet been completely accepted
by housing staff, the first steps
of Indignation are in evidence.
POLICE BRUTALITY
Brutality on the part Of police
officers, due to racial bias, has
practically disappeared. There has
been no cas- reported for one year,
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Our public schools are among
the best in the nation when eval
uated from a race relations point
of view. Teacher appointments
are being currently made on the
basis of qualification and without
regard to race. Nine Negro teach
ers were appointed at the begin
ming ( this school year. All are
assigned where their skill indl
cate, and several are working In
schools where no Negro students
are in attendance. Students are
welcome, and do participate In
all branches of extra curriculai
athletics.
SOCIAL SERVICES
At this point, We can state
without equivocation, social serv
ices in Portland are freer of dis
elimination than in any othel
large city in the Country. This
statements Is true for both public
and private agencies. Public Wei
fare is above reproach; all grouI
work and leisure time agencies
are open to all. We do not have
the traditional Jim Crow YMCA
and YWCA to plague us. AL
thirteen summr camps serving
this community are operated Oh
an integrated basis and Negro
youth were in attendance at al
camps in the season past. Many
Negroes are serving in responsible
staff positions. An increasing mum
Der of Negroes are being elected
to board and committee positions