Portland, Oregon..Most Racist State Of The Union

[Rising Like A Phoenix]

Today i read an article that specified Oregon as the most racist state in the union. Hate crime's are common place, such as beating's and intimidation. My question is,[if these assesment's are true]why all the hate? It's 2007 for god's sake!!

[claudia in Saint Helens]

hmmmm....where did you read this article?

[BigG98446]

This story is just more liberal crappola.

Not true, of course.

Actually, us Oregonians only hate those who are from Buffalo, NY.

[MamaJohnson86]

i highly doubt this is true. we are such a diverse area, especially portland, where i live.

[claudia in Saint Helens]

Portland is SO bloody liberal its almost laughable. That's why I would like to know where Phoenix got his/her information!

[Americana]

Sorry that title belongs to Virginia
and we will fight for it Thems a fighting words
all of our scum people come from inbred familes

[Camille]

The urban areas of Portland and Eugene are very liberal (which does not necessarily exclude racism by the way) but the initial comment said OREGON is the most racist STATE in the union. There may be others ahead of it, but I would agree that rural Oregon and the urban suburbs, can be more racist than inner Portland or Eugene, and a lot of other areas in this fabulous country. Liberals (myself included) would be wise to always be aware of racism, as it can crop up where one least expects it - even in oneself.

[kmg]

I live in Portland, Oregon and there is a huge difference between the Portland inner city area, the Portland Metro Area and the State of Oregon outside of Portland. The culture in the city is fairly liberal, there are slightly more diverse numbers and more acceptance of minorities the LGBT community and others and yet there is also the most violence by the Police and the conservative Portland Business Aliance toward blacks and other minorities. It is this racism and hatred that has caused many of us from the city to publically complain and protest the ways of our police and conservative organizations that committ hatred because it is so diametrically opposed to the way most city citizens are. However when you zoom out and are talking about the Metro area, I think there is less abuse by police in the suburbs but only because there are fewer African Americans in the suburban populations, however there are still substantial eastern european, hispanic and asian communities dispersed throughout the metro area that I think might occasionally deal with police brutaility or prejudice, but no more than anywhere else in the US. As far as Oregon outside of the metro area, I think it is much more conservative and also a bit more racist possibly because small farming communities are generally not used to seeing and living around minorities in their communities and this fear of change and incorporation of new cultures I think scares some of these older, sometimes more simple farm type folk. I'm not saying this is always the case and I'd hate to over generalize but this has just been my general observation based on living in Oregon over the past 16 years.

[Supa]

Im just irritated with Portland right now. I didnt know I was moving to another soon to be Lost Angeles.

[auto]

I moved here two years ago and there is inherent racism here. Internet posters dribble on about Portland's diversity and it's open up the world climate. Having lived in cities throughout the United States and abroad in Asia and Europe, I have never seen such a tribal energy towards white feelings of superiority. The problem is that it's the surface double face stupidity of actors attempting to be something that is not within them. Cultured. It's a big stage set where everyone basks in their parts, disconnected from a merit based system that most of the world adheres to. Hey, i'm an artist because I am acting out this part, even though my artwork has no merit and lacks any dialogue. On and on the little parts are played out. What fuels this massive game? Race. We are white so we can do anything! All of my friends here from Europe and outside of this mediocre pit of self rightousness have all left. Every one of them. This city repels upfront people, those with talent, those with dialogue, leaving a growing mass of people who have found their place on the stage. Now if anyone stumbles upon this post from Portland they will immediately attempt to defend the city. Why?
Because any criticism threatens the mirage. It threatens the collective game. This idea of defending a city is very unique. Most people in most cities wouldn't be emotionally affected. Portland is not just a city, not just a lifestyle,
it's a massive cult. I leave next month to go back to Boston. I am leaping around my apartment. I came here for medical reasons. Now I am ready to go. Look, if you want to be around creative, intelligent, energetic, upfront, not philosophically blank, gregarious, enjoy dialogue, then don't come here. I have a Portuguese friend who just left here, people confused him for being mexican often and were very rude to him. What's interesting is that his Grandfather was a count. It was his iberian copper colored skintone that people reacted to meanly. I even observed this. If you are mediocre, self entitled, know how to pose and carry a hole in your head, give people on the street imperial stares if they appear to be different, then by all means come, you will feel good. I would like to say that there are people that make the exception, I don't know one. It's just a wretched place. Once your tourist mentality wears off you will see it. Sieg Hiel!

[nehalem]

Lots of comments here from the legions of carperbaggers who have invaded the Portland Metro area over the last decade. Auto of boston is a prime example. Couldn't cut it in Portland so blame racism and the fact that locals didn't give a crap that his/her friends granpa was count in Portugal for scurrying back to beantown. By the by Auto, not sure how many "Counts" Portugal has produced throughout history.

The state of Oregon does have a racist history and is primarily white. That being said, the state of Oregon/government is bending over backwards to make up for said history.

Many of us, regardless of color have ZERO respect and no tolerance for people acting like trash and participating in violence against others or for people not in our country legally regardless of whether they are brown, white or black.

We're down on lowlifes and scum and high on giving people a chance to participate in civil society. Pretty much like any other decent city in this country.

By the way, the weather here sucks and housing is through the roof. Best stay where you are. It won't be any better for you here.

[Pat Patterson]

Hey, folks...this racism crap is just that CRAP! Oregon (bless us everyone) is a beautiful mix of sober liberalism and practical conservatism...thats why both partys can never get a clear handle on how Oregon will go, we're
liberal as hell on many issues and also very con-servative on others. So, carpetbaggers, those who have trashed their own nest now want to trash ours? No way, Jose!!!
Clinton(s) have always been BIG on 'diversity' which means 'division,' an identification of ones unique origins, culture, etc. The glue, or magic, that has made this country great in ther past is:
'ASSIMILATION' unity, becomming part of the solution, not waving numerous flags and demanding that we conform to some alien life styles...do you remember the immigrants of the 1940s? Like an Italian restraunt owner who had a picture of FDR proudly on the wall over his cash register, a copy of his citizenship document and pictures of his four sons all in army uniforms!

[No biggie]

nehalem wrote:

Lots of comments here from the legions of carperbaggers who have invaded the Portland Metro area over the last decade. Auto of boston is a prime example. Couldn't cut it in Portland so blame racism and the fact that locals didn't give a crap that his/her friends granpa was count in Portugal for scurrying back to beantown. By the by Auto, not sure how many "Counts" Portugal has produced throughout history.
The state of Oregon does have a racist history and is primarily white. That being said, the state of Oregon/government is bending over backwards to make up for said history.
Many of us, regardless of color have ZERO respect and no tolerance for people acting like trash and participating in violence against others or for people not in our country legally regardless of whether they are brown, white or black.
We're down on lowlifes and scum and high on giving people a chance to participate in civil society. Pretty much like any other decent city in this country.
By the way, the weather here sucks and housing is through the roof. Best stay where you are. It won't be any better for you here.

Absolutely, but when discrimination happens, it usually happens to the working people who ARE trying to fit in. It's funny how you equate somebody from another country to a criminal. Next time you happen to go overseas for your vacation, try to remember that. Especially if you go to Thailand, like many, who go there to commit a specific type of crime. If Thailand went about cataloging foreigners - americans - like you catalog foreigners in your home town, then the Thai police would have sore arms from all the lashings and beatings (specific) americans deserve.

[History Heard of it]

1844
Slavery is declared illegal in the Oregon Country. The infamous "Lash Law," requiring that blacks in Oregon -- be they free or slave -- be whipped twice a year "until he or she shall quit the territory," is passed in June. It is soon deemed too harsh and its provisions for punishment are reduced to forced labor in December.
1848
Oregon's Provisional Government passes the first Exclusion Law in the Oregon Country following the Whitman Massacre in 1847.
1859
On February 14, 1859, Oregon becomes the first state admitted to the Union with an exclusion law written into the state constitution.
1862
Oregon adopts a law requiring all blacks, Chinese, Hawaiians, and Mulattos (an archaic term referring to people of mixed ethnic heritage) residing in Oregon to pay an annual tax of $5. If they could not pay this tax, the law empowered the state to press them into service maintaining state roads for 50 cents a day. Interracial marriages are banned in Oregon; it is against the law for whites to marry anyone 1/4 or more black.
1926
Oregon repeals its exclusion law, amending the state constitution to remove it from the Bill of Rights.
1927
The Oregon State Constitution is finally amended to remove a clause denying blacks the right to vote.
1919
an effort began to pass a law making discrimination in public accommodations illegal in this state. That effort did not succeed until 1953.'

[History Heard of it]

in case you don't understand the post above - they banned black people from living in oregon.

portland may be kind of mixed, but the rest of the state isn't

[History Heard of it]

"1919 Portland Board of Realty approves a Code of Ethics prohibitings realtors and bankers from selling property in white neighborhoods to people of color or providing mortgages for such purchases."

[History Heard of it]

why don't you look up "Vanport"

[Only if]

Supa wrote:

Im just irritated with Portland right now. I didnt know I was moving to another soon to be Lost Angeles.

...you stay. If you leave then Oregon will remain a great place to live.

[cesar chavez]

I am a lifetime Portland resident, born and raised. I know this city in and out and I can tell you that racism is alive and well here. I can not comment if it's the most racist in the country because I haven't lived anywhere else but there is a lot of racism here. It is funny how white people never see the racism but the minorities always do. In fact racism seems to be worse now than in years past. I can remember a time in this city when racist neo-nazi skinheads were trying to take over the city but were confronted consistently by non-racist white skins and punk rockers but where have all the down ass cool white people gone??? Please come back! haha...Portland ain't all THAT bad...it's not like I'm scared to go outside...I don't think violence against minorities is a major problem...it's just more of people's attitudes, the mocking and snide, ignorant and insensitive remarks about minorities and especially blacks.

[Elizabeth]

Ok, I feel silly saying this....but I am a college student attending Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin. I was raised in Beaverton, Oregon and spent much of my time in Portland. I am writing my term paper on racism in Portland and google.com directed me to this site. I love the conversation but I need approved sources. Can anyone that posted something with scientific background help me out and direct my search to some credible sources, please? Thanks for the help.