Clarion Defender

The Clarion Defender was an African American run newspaper in Portland, Oregon.[1] It operated from 1966 until around 1973 and was founded by Jimmy Walker. Its motto was “Oldest Negro Publisher in the Northwest."[2]

The Northwest Clarion, initially published between 1943 and 1961, was revived under the direction of civil rights advocate and African American journalist Jimmy “Bang-Bang” Walker.[3]

Walker had founded, edited, and published the Northwest Defender in January 1962 and five years later took over the Northwest Clarion and renamed it the Clarion Defender. The paper was alternately known as the Northwest Clarion Defender and New Northwest Clarion Defender.[2] It was located at 1223 NE Alberta Street.[3] Five years later, in August 1967, Walker took over the Northwest Clarion, which had since suspended publication, and renamed his newspaper the Clarion Defender, which was also referred to as the Northwest Clarion Defender and the New Northwest Clarion Defender. [2]

In addition to the Clarion Defender, the city also had the Portland Challenger (1952–54), the Portland Times (1918-20), and numerous other African American newspapers that lasted a year or less with a few dating back to the 1890s.[4]

The Clarion Defender focused attention on the impact of local issues on African-Americans and  routinely used his newspaper to expose purported police brutality.[5] In reaction to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Walker used the paper to express continued commitment to Dr. King's goals and non-violent approach to achieve them.[6]

Jimmy "Bang-Bang" Walker

James Zell “Jimmy” Walker, Jr. was born on March 23, 1932 in Birmingham, Alabama to Emma Lou and James Zell Walker, Sr. Jimmy had a brother by the name of Ivory Mitchell Walker, half brothers Grady William “Sonny” Owens, and Harvey Lee Black, Jr., sister Denise Walker, and half sister Gail V. Black. [7]

Jimmy's father died in 1936 when Jimmy was 4 years old and the family moved to Vallejo, California. In 1940 at the age of eight, Jimmy was making $25.00 a week selling newspapers and picking fruit. [7] Jimmy remembers: “Our mother taught us to be proud. That hard work is the foundation for good health and a good mind. We never went on welfare, we all worked.” [7] In 1941, Jimmy won the California Junior Golden Gloves in his division for boxing, and in high school he had won letters in all four available sports: football, basketball, baseball and track. [7]

On October 4, 2005 Jimmy "Bang-Bang" Walker passed away at age 73 due to natural causes within his home in North Portland, Oregon, and on October 8, 2005 a service was held at the Jefferson High School auditorium in his honor. [7] Walker was deeply appreciated by his community. “It’s a real loss to the African American community in terms of the commitment that he had to fostering our community, helping young men and women to take pride in and learn about their culture,” said Halim Rahsaan, a former amateur boxer. [7] Tony Hopson, who was founder, president & Chief Executive Officer of Self Enhancement Inc. said, “He was a real role model… at a time when a lot of folks of color in this city weren’t as eager to jump out there and try new things, he did the Miss Tan at a time when folks needed to feel good about themselves, and really weren’t in a position to compete in some of the other kinds of pageants. We looked at that as a real positive.” [7]

References
  1. "List of African-American newspapers in Oregon", Wikipedia, 2020-02-01, retrieved 2020-02-27
  2. "Clarion Defender | Historic Black Newspapers of Portland | Portland State University". pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  3. "African American Resources in Portland, Oregon, from 1865 to 1973" (PDF). United States Department of the Interior: National Park Service: National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form. December 11, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  4. Loving, Lisa. "Black History Month Special Edition: The Black Press". The Skanner News. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  5. Bryan, Joshua (2013-01-01). "Portland, Oregon's Long Hot Summers: Racial Unrest and Public Response, 1967-1969". Dissertations and Theses. doi:10.15760/etd.995.
  6. Buhler, Julie Lorana (June 1983). The civil rights movement in Portland, Oregon, 1955-68 (Thesis thesis). University Of Oregon.
  7. "Topic: THE JIMMY (BANG-BANG) WALKER STORY | Feedback.pdxradio.com". Retrieved 2020-02-29.
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