Ron WydenOvjeren akaunt

Celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth also means acknowledging and grappling with historic and present-day racism. Oregon was no exception when it came to implementing racist and discriminatory policies targeting people of color.

Oregon’s exclusion clause prevented black Americans from settling in the state until 1927. Redlining policies were put in place to box out black families from certain parts of town. White supremacist organizations had deep roots in the Pacific Northwest.

As important as it is to recognize these ugly realities, I hope that this month, and every month, Oregonians recognize and lift up the stories of some of the unsung heroes who made our state a better place to live, work and raise a family.