Each of the 115 guests placed an order at the door tonight as they attended the Salem/Keizer NAACP’s second annual Freedom Fund Banquet.
At least two things were clear: The champagne salmon edged out the hazelnut chicken, and turnout eclipsed last year’s event, which recognizes civic involvement and raises money for local youth programs.
Among the guests at the Red Lion Hotel were Salem Mayor Janet Taylor, Peggy Ross representing the Office of Gov. Ted Kulongoski, and Kari Herinckx, the 2010 Miss Black Oregon.
“We have about 30 to 40 more people than we had last year,” said Jessica Peterson, who led the proceedings in singing the African American national anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
This year’s theme was “Building the Dream,” as the event was also a celebration of 47 years since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his historic “I have a dream” speech, chapter president Gregory Peterson noted.
“This is a tremendous night tonight,” said Rev. Ronnie Brooks of Salem’s To God Be the Glory Ministries, who invoked the opening prayer and commended the diverse, full-house turnout. “When we look around this room, we see what heaven will look like.”
Part of the fundraiser was a silent auction of donated items that included an MLK collage, fine wine, mixed baskets of goodies, a set of left-handed golf clubs and a football autographed by four Hall of Fame Oakland Raiders.
Cynthia Richardson presented the scholarship awards to Justin Wray of Sprague High School, and Armando Hernandez and Phillip Van Ginkle, both of North Salem High School.
“We were originally going to award two scholarships, but with the quality of applications, we wanted to make sure we could award a third,” said Richardson, who chaired the selection committee.
Wray plans to attend either the University of Connecticut, Sacred Heart or Willamette University.
Hernandez has been through 34 different foster homes in his young life. He plans to go into social work and attend Portland State University, Oregon State University or the University of Oregon.
“I’ve always wanted to work with kids, and I’ve been given the opportunity with a job at the Boys and Girls Club,” he said in his essay.
Van Ginkle, who plans to study at Oregon State, Western Oregon University or Willamette University, wrote an application essay that extolled the exhilaration and nuances of skateboarding, cleverly tying them in an analogy to the pursuit of a college education.
Master of ceremonies Benny Williams presented the Pioneer Awards, received by Rose Lewis of the League of Women Voters of Marion and Polk Counties, Calvin Henry, president of Oregon Assembly for Black Affairs, and Ramon Ramirez of Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United, better known as PCUN.
Ramirez praised the work of farm laborers, work he called the most important in society because it feeds people. Yet he lamented that it is often thankless, and despite the work ethic of farm workers, they are often berated and called names.
“No human being is illegal, not one human being is illegal,” Ramirez said. “Yet we are seeing a backlash of immigrant hysteria.”
Henry referred to a racist undertone that still exists in society, and said the recent election illustrated that.
“I think we’ve seen the most racist election in the history of the U.S.,” Henry said. “We are about to turn our back on our ideals.”
“We have to get people to talk about racism,” he added. “The NAACP is an organization that is still needed. Some people like to say its time has come and gone. It hasn’t.”
While the event had a strong local flavor, there were also attendees from outside the Salem/Keizer area.
Herinckx, of Forest Grove, is a graduate student in education at the University of Oregon.
“We find it very important to be a part of the community and support local endeavors,” she said of the Miss Black USA organization.
jmuch@statesmanjournal.com or (503) 399-6736 (503) 399-6736
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