| Speech by Governor Kulongoski |
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| October 13, 2004 |
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Urban League Dinner
REMARKS BY GOVERNOR TED KULONGOSKI
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Matt – thank you very much for your introduction.
As many of you probably know, Matt and I go back a long way together. I want to take this opportunity to thank Matt for his many years of friendship – and for dedicating his life to knocking down barriers to economic opportunity and social justice.
I also want to acknowledge Matt’s co-chair, Russ Danielson of Providence Health System; Dr. Vicki Phillips, Portland’s new school superintendent; Brian Rohter, this year’s winner of the Equal Opportunity Award; and Peggy Ross – who is doing a great job for me as Director of Affirmative Action.
Finally, let me thank Vanessa Gaston, the membership of the Urban League of Portland, and all of the business sponsors who are here tonight because they believe in the League’s mission of equality and economic self-sufficiency for African Americans and others.
I’m going to be very brief this evening, but I want you to know that your Governor also believes in the mission of the Urban League of Portland. It’s not a casual belief. And it’s not a new belief. Whether the issue is access to the courts or access to the economic ladder – fighting for equality has been a guiding principle of my public life.
I’m old enough to remember when discrimination was legal in many parts of this country. I’m old enough to remember when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. went to Memphis and told the world the night before he died that African Americans would get to the Promised Land. And I’m old enough to know that while legal discrimination belongs to the past – the economic Promised Land that Dr. King dreamed about is still, for many African Americans, in the future.
Unemployment among African Americans is higher than average – and wages are lower than average. Too many African American children don’t have health insurance – and the achievement gap for African American children has not been closed in Oregon or nationally. So we still have a lot of work ahead of us. But I’m here to tell you that as long as I’m Governor – I’m going to do everything I can to help the Urban League of Portland reach its goal of improving public education and leveling the playing field for African American businesses and workers.
First of all, I join Dr. Phillips in calling for keeping our promise to the children of Multnomah County. If we go back on that promise by repealing the temporary income surcharge – weeks of the school year will be cut, and hundreds of teachers could lose their jobs. We need to strengthen our schools – not weaken them. Improving education with smaller classes and more diverse programs is the most important thing we can do for African American children.
Education is freedom. Education is opportunity. Education is prosperity. And education – of the highest quality – is what every African American child in Oregon deserves. That’s why I oppose the repeal.
Education is one of my top budget priorities – and so is growing Oregon’s economy. Worker training, affirmative action, public investment in higher education, enforcing anti-discrimination laws, and promoting diversity are all part of my economic development agenda – because these policies will help bring success for Oregon’s African American community. And success for you means success for all Oregonians.
Why? Because we don’t get ahead by leaving others behind. We are all in this together. Every region. Every community. Every citizen. And we all have to be part of the solution. Government, by itself, can’t bring in those who have been locked out of the American Dream. And neither can business. We also need great non-profit partners like the Urban League of Portland.
Members of the Urban League of Portland are mentors and advocates. Supporters of community schools and scholarships. Voices for equality. And role models for young African Americans. And as tonight demonstrates – the Urban League of Portland is an admired organization with a proven record of teaming up with government and business in the building – and rebuilding – of Portland’s urban economy.
You have my thanks. My congratulations. And my deep commitment to continuing to work with you to achieve full equality – and economic opportunity – for every citizen of Oregon.
Thank you.
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