History of Racism in Oregon

Racism in Oregon Black history:

Timeline of Racism Against Black People in Oregon:

In 1844, when slavery was banned in Oregon, all African Americans were told to leave the territory. Any Black person remaining would be flogged publicly every six months until he left.
In 1857, Oregon adopted a state constitution that banned Black people from coming to the state, residing in the state, or holding property in the state.
In 1859, upon entering the union, Oregon was the only state that explicitly forbade Black people from living in its borders.
In 1919, the Realty Board of Portland approved a Code of Ethics forbidding realtors and bankers from selling or giving loans to minorities for properties located in white neighborhoods.
In 1922, the governor was elected with the vocal support of the KKK, and photos in the local paper showed the Portland chief of police, sheriff, district attorney, U.S. attorney, and mayor posing with Klansmen, accompanied by an article saying the men were taking advice from the Klan.
In 1959, it finally ratified the 15th Amendment, which gave Black people the right to vote.
In 1973, Oregon finally ratified the 14th Amendment—the Equal Protection Clause.
Today, Portland is the whitest big city in America.

Timeline of Racism in Oregon from whiteonrace.org

2021 timeline (PDF) from Oregon Center for Educational Equity

Oregon Stories

What were Oregon Black exclusion laws?

While slavery was technically illegal in Oregon, white residents enforced Black exclusion laws. These laws were designed to ensure Oregon’s population remained white by discouraging free Blacks from settling in the state. Read more here.

Do you know the story of Robin and Polly Holmes?

The Holmes were slaves in Missouri who were brought to the Oregon territory in 1844 with the promise of freedom for themselves and three of their six children (the other three children had already been sold). Six years later, when they were finally granted their freedom, their former owner refused to free their children. Robin took his former master to court. In 1853, the case reached the Territorial Supreme Court which decided in favor of Robin, (because slavery was technically illegal in Oregon), and his two surviving children were freed. Read more here.

Heard of the Vanport flood?

Vanport, Oregon was the largest WWII federal housing project in the United States, and as such, attracted national attention to the region. At its peak, Vanport was home to over 42,000 residents, making it the second largest population center in the state. Vanport was known as the “Negro Project” despite the fact that African Americans were no more than 25% of residents at any given time. On May 31, 1948, the Vanport Flood washed it away. Read more here.