Learning From History

In 2020, Transponder ran a series on Oregon's Racist History. You can read V. Varun Chaudhry's brief history account here. Learn more about Transponder here.

Why aren’t there more Black people in Oregon? That’s the provocative question Walidah Imarisha poses – and then proceeds to answer. Start with the state’s original constitution, which banned blacks from living here. The law was repealed in the 1920s, but the language remained in the constitution until voters finally excised it in 2002. Oregon’s continued difficulty with welcoming communities of color stems from this history and has become ingrained in the state’s economic and social structures, says Imarisha, who teaches Black Studies at PSU.

Imarisha's PDXtalk can be found HERE.

This special issue features articles that explore the history of White supremacy and resistance in Oregon. Authors discuss topics including Whiteness, settler colonialism, racial exclusion and land ownership, abolitionism and anti-slavery politics, violence, labor and organizing, White supremacist organizations, and forms of resistance to White supremacy. This 276 page article can be found in its entirety HERE.

“These anti-racism books educate readers about everything from white privilege and fragility to Black history and systemic racism.” You can find the complete list HERE