But what about the black people? (Portland, Hillsboro: transplants, construction, schools)

[Nell Plotts]

With my mouth I probably wouldn't have lasted long either. Uppity women were not appreciated.

Those things are well before your and my time. I don't see any residuals of that attitude today - oh there may be an individual or two but nothing that represents the community as a whole.

[klalchuck]

My son just moved to PDX from Eugene this very day, to the Alberta district. He went walking and realized he was the only white kid around. Guess it depends on what part of town you're in, eh?

[Library56]

The whole idea of the post is absolutely absurd. People seem to be angry that there are so many white people in my town of Portland. This is America people can move to any town in the country they choose. If Black people want to move into Portland and nearby communities they will.

Many of the posters seem to think that if a town is not dominated by people of color there is something wrong. They forget that America is still dominated by white people so most communities are going to be white. 70% of the Nations Hispanics live in Texas, CA, Florida, Ill, NY, NJ, Arizona and New Mexico. While there numbers are increasing in other parts of the country, they are still a minority outside of these states. 80% of Blacks also live in 7 states, the other 43 have a Black population under 5%.

Considering a large number of the new residents to Portland and the rest of Oregon are coming from CA, the Mountain States and the Upper Midwest, which have a very low population of Black People, it is likely the population of African Americans in Portland will remain low.

[SeattlitefromNC]

Originally Posted by Library56

The whole idea of the post is absolutely absurd. People seem to be angry that there are so many white people in my town of Portland. This is America people can move to any town in the country they choose. If Black people want to move into Portland and nearby communities they will.

Many of the posters seem to think that if a town is not dominated by people of color there is something wrong. They forget that America is still dominated by white people so most communities are going to be white. 70% of the Nations Hispanics live in Texas, CA, Florida, Ill, NY, NJ, Arizona and New Mexico. While there numbers are increasing in other parts of the country, they are still a minority outside of these states. 80% of Blacks also live in 7 states, the other 43 have a Black population under 5%.

Considering a large number of the new residents to Portland and the rest of Oregon are coming from CA, the Mountain States and the Upper Midwest, which have a very low population of Black People, it is likely the population of African Americans in Portland will remain low.

No one said that it was a bad thing. It is, however, reflective of a culture that may be different to someone from another part of the country ... but let's make this clear: no one said it was a bad thing.

It CAN sometimes be a complication on a simple level, however. For one thing, there are certain services (hair and beauty care being one consideration of many) that will probably not be as available to black people here in Portland as they would be in places with higher African-American concentrations. As African-Americans become more middle-class and use their wealth to decide where they want to live, these cultural touchstones become very real considerations for many black people in choosing a place to live.

I also do not understand why the above questions are lumped automatically in the "racist" column, when people of many different classes, cultures, and creeds regularly request information with regards to their particular community. Jews wanting to find other Jews? Check. Native Hawaiians wanting to connect with other Hawaiians? Check. Japanese folks inquiring about the authenticity of Japanese food in the area? Check.

With African-Americans, the cultural considerations are similar.

To that end, I hesitate to call such behavior racist or even separatist in the absence of malicious intent.

[Wicked Felina]

SeattlitefromNC, I appreciate that you can offer your opinion without delving into personal attacks on people, their thoughts or ideas. Very well done.

[want to move somewhere]

there aren't that many and a lot of the ones that were here are in jail. This is definately not the place to find racial diversity - that is one main reason i am moving from here - i don't want to raise black children here with a very low amount of positive examples that they can relate too

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

I have a friend from Oregon and according to her, the KKK infiltrated the Orgeon government and tried to pass legislation prohibiting nuns from wearing their habits(the traditional clothing of a nun) in parochial schools. As a Catholic and and African-American, Oregon would have been a no-no for me during the 1920's.

No doubt it would have been challenging. But do be aware that the word was tried. Not succeeded. I don't know anywhere that doesn't have/has had their fair share of wrong-minded (in my opinion) people. That it's not a majority, I think, is the best I think we can hope for.

But it still goes on in one form or another. I still won't stop (and spend any money) should I be passing through the town of Canby. Something like 10 or 15 years ago, they passed a law banning homosexuals from teaching. Luckily, it too was overturned before it was ever enacted (like the parochial school law in the 20s).

[meltinjohn]

I come from Boston area initially, and I can fairly say that when I was in Portland, I still saw my fair share of blacks. Try NE 82nd and some in Hollywood district but out in NE there heading into SE 82nd, it had quite a few and vietnamese people. It reminded me of being back east kinda or at least like some parts of FL.
I think the diversity in Portland is ok on the whole if your not talking racially. There were way more mexicans than I ever expected to see. I didnt think mexicans moved to the nw and thought they were mostly in warmer climates with lots of sun. I underestimated that.
Even though I loved Portland, I am debating whether I should move all the way from FL taking all my stuff with me for 2700 miles or try to find a smaller city 8-12 hrs from me where I can get similar to Portland in a smaller kinda collegetown kinda place. So its like I decided on Portland but also looking at other considerations like Athens GA or Asheville NC. NTM getting apartments in PDX have a real high competition rate with people and I hear such how many landlords dont like renting to out of towners too well so..
If anything foodwise was lacking in Portland tho, Id have to go to with BBQ or italian food/pizza. A lot of greek and indian tho and a good amount of mexican especially with foodtrucks along with the few Muchas Gracias locations.
Portland is like Austin minus the blues culture and barbeque food and Austin has more mexican restaurants. Im glad I went to Portland over Austin tho with the #1 reasons being weather + transit to get around. Austin may be bigger but doesnt have the transit and a much stickier ass climate lol.

[vette-dude]

Originally Posted by Miami305Kid

The west coast simply doesn't have a lot of black people, only around 8% or some low number. The west coast is very diverse its just that the majority of black people live in the south.

I've seen the race change to a degree over the years, but not considerable, this also includes eastern Washington as well..

[Huckleberry3911948]

dont know but i would go where there is opportunity. skin tone would not be my compass never has been which has led me thru an interesting life.