Learning the history of the places where we live often illuminates the persistence of racism there, as in this article about Portland, OR by Alana Semuels in The Atlantic.
Learning the history of the places where we live often illuminates the persistence of racism there, as in this article about Portland, OR by Alana Semuels in The Atlantic.
The disheartening reality of the Racist History of Portland is that other White Only cities and spaces (communities and organizations) exist in America. Trust me, I get it that no one wants to believe that they contribute or live in a racist community or work within a racist organization, but I challenge you to take an honest look around at your neighbors, community, organization, department – ask yourself is this an accident or by design. I love how northerner’s love to identify as more progressive than southerners around the topic race relations. But it is time to take the blinders off and tell the truth. There is a Portland in New Jersey, New York, Chicago, and Maine, etc. The very same political tactics are used in these cities as well to exclude people of color. American’s look dismayed when witnessing human right violations in Pakatian, Iran, Russia, and other countries depicting their actions as insensitive and unsophisticated when we have our shame – racism – alive and thriving. What are you doing to dismantle segregation addiction without contributing economic or social harm to people of color?