“Meet a vibrant community that thrives despite a history of discrimination.
The allure of Oregon’s sweeping coastal vistas, thick conifer forests and snowcapped peaks transcends a single demographic. But when black travelers visit the state, they invariably wonder why there are so few black people here. In fact, educator and historical scholar Walidah Imarisha has traveled the state for years with an informative lecture that answers the question: “Why Aren’t There More Black People in Oregon?”
The answer is rooted in the state’s three separate black exclusion laws that were once part of the Oregon Constitution. The discriminatory language was not even completely removed from the historical document until 2001.”
