Racism in Oregon? (Eugene, Salem, Bend: neighborhood, taxes, living in)

[KCKnight]

This is one of those issues that I receive many conflicting opinions on. One person says, "racism isn't a problem in Oregon." The next person practically makes Oregon sound like a KKK breeding ground. I don't believe it's that bad there, mostly because all of the people I've met from Oregon (and I know many people from Oregon) are very nice and "cultured".

I'd just like to know from you all. Is racism a "big issue" in Oregon, or is it a non-issue? Especially in the Bend/Redmond/Salem areas.

I would really appreciate your response. Thanks!

[JohnPaul]

No, it isn't that big a deal at all. White's aren't the only people capable of being racist, and it would do all well to remember that.

[Hemlock140]

I have never heard of any racial problems in Oregon, but then, the state is 80% white, less than 2% black and about 4% Asian.

[KCKnight]

Originally Posted by JohnPaul

No, it isn't that big a deal at all. White's aren't the only people capable of being racist, and it would do all well to remember that.

I'm glad to hear that! I kind of already knew that, but I just wanted to know what people thought on here. I've never experienced racism while I was visiting there.

And, I'm VERY aware that "white's aren't the only people capable of racism." The "KKK breeding ground" comment I made was how my friend characterized Oregon. Of course whites aren't the only people capable of racism, and I would never imply they are.

[JohnPaul]

Originally Posted by Orgcrush

Oregon's more like 94% white. I have heard rumors from minorities, particularly black people, that Eugene is not terribly friendly to people of color.

That couldn't be farther from the actual truth...Eugene is the hippie socialist capitol of the US next to San Francisco as far as being PC and liberal and open to all races, of which there are many.

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by Orgcrush

Oregon has a very racist past: laws on the books used to forbid black people from living in Oregon.

Let's do remember that was a time when for half the country it was still legal to own black people. Isn't it time to stop pulling out that old chestnut of a law to prove that the state is racist?

And yes, the KKK was active here about a hundred years ago. Their focus, however, was Catholics. Not blacks.

Face it, racism exists everywhere.

[Silverfall]

From what I see most of the racial bias is against Hispanics. I also agree that it isn't generally overt here, but much more subtle. I think part of the problem is that Oregon has been Caucasian for so long, that some just aren't used to diversity and get upset when someone speaks with a thick accent, or speaks their native language. The neighborhood is getting "too many Hispanics" kind of comments. That's what I see anyway.

I do think that folks, generally speaking, are "to each his own" kind of people here and I think the KKK breeding ground comment is a gross inaccuracy of Oregon. Yes we have hate groups here, just like every other place in the country.

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

Let's do remember that was a time when for half the country it was still legal to own black people. Isn't it time to stop pulling out that old chestnut of a law to prove that the state is racist?

And yes, the KKK was active here about a hundred years ago. Their focus, however, was Catholics. Not blacks.

Face it, racism exists everywhere.

Not quite that long ago. The exclusion laws didn't start to break down until WWII. There was a Chinese American guy who owned Oriental Garden restaurant outside McMinnville who wasn't allowed to have a business inside the city limits. He had some hard feelings. When McMinnville annexed his area, he sold out and moved to Corvallis rather than pay taxes to McMinnville. That was my parents' generation.

Oregon also had quite a flirtation with eugenics laws, and sterilized mental patients and criminals. That was repealed about the time Hitler's eugenics program hit the news.

Any non-vaginal sex was illegal until 1973.

I fairly often run into people who think we should go back to the way things were. They don't have any social cache, but they are out there.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by JohnPaul

That couldn't be farther from the actual truth...Eugene is the hippie socialist capitol of the US next to San Francisco as far as being PC and liberal and open to all races, of which there are many.

I agree with the liberal hippies in Eugene, but that means nothing as far as minority population. There is 2010 census data available. Unless they all hid out from the census workers the black population in Eugene is 1.3%, Asian 3.7% Hispanic 11.2% white 89.8%.

[JohnPaul]

Originally Posted by bisjoe

I agree with the liberal hippies in Eugene, but that means nothing as far as minority population. There is 2010 census data available. Unless they all hid out from the census workers the black population in Eugene is 1.3%, Asian 3.7% Hispanic 11.2% white 89.8%.

And so what if it is...there is no sign of racism that I see here...none.