Oregon has its own history of racism

[struggle4progress]

By Casey Parks
The Oregonian/OregonLive
on July 27, 2015 at 5:00 AM
updated July 27, 2015 at 8:52 AM

... When Oregon became a state in 1859, it did so with a caveat: No black people -- not even "mulattos" with one white parent -- could move here. Oregon was the only free state admitted into the union with a constitution that forbade black people to live, work, vote or own property.

Some African Americans prospered despite the laws. But, as W.D. Allen and George Moore learned after opening the Golden West Hotel in 1906, running a business for black customers meant constant fights with authorities. They survived several raids and court challenges, as detailed in Oregonian articles from the time, before shutting during the Great Depression.

State law still barred black people from moving here in 1921 when an Oregon chapter of the Ku Klux Klan organized. Lawmakers lifted the ban in 1926, but discrimination persisted.

In the 1940s, when future U.S. Sen. Mark Hatfield was a Willamette University student, Salem hotels had a whites-only policy. Hatfield had to drive renowned black performers Paul Robeson and Marian Anderson to Portland after a Salem performance to find them a place to sleep ...

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2015/07/oregon_history_of_racism.html

[raccoon]

1. I never knew that. I knew, of course, that there had been discrimination in the Northwest against

Chinese and Native Americans, but this I never knew about.

[classof56]

2. Yeah, not among the proudest parts of our beautiful state's history.

Recently, I was having a discussion with a few of my fellow Oregonians on this very topic. Perhaps some of our more progressive accomplishments throughout the years may have mitigated the ugliness of these racist laws and practices. Sorry about our past, guess we can only keep our eyes on the future.

A few years ago, our state motto was changed from "The Union" to "Oregon: She Flies With Her Own Wings". I must say, I like the new one better.

Proud Oregonian