Racial climate in Portland (Hillsboro, West Linn: low income, salons, homes)

[MsTia]

Although I consider myself a person that loves a variety of cultures including music, food, and people period, I still would like to know if there are places such as salons that do ethnic or "Black" hair, braiding, or restaurants that serve soul food or soul vegetarian food, museums, and clubs that play both rock, hip hop,etc. in Portland? Does anyone know?

Also, from my research, Portland doesn't sound very diverse and seems segregated with most African americans living in "certain sections". Is this true? Are some areas more welcoming for diversity than others? if so, which ones?

Any thoughts or answers to these questions would be greatly appreciated.
I should also add that I have mostly lived within mostly "white" environments but there has always been places nearby that were more diverse that was accessible.

[beatphl]

Here is the deal. You are not going to fine what you are requesting in Portland. I have gone for days without see a black person in the downtown area. Okay that is not exactly true there is this one guy I see a lot. But I guess the point is that it is in fact the same guy and that there are so few that I know it's the same guy. Diversity is not one of Portland's finer features. There seems to be a small number of black people living in Northeast Portland but they call that the ghetto. You can go to the Lloyd Center Mall and get a nice slice of diversity. Haven't seen a salon around or soul food but there must be one somewhere after all I have only been here for 5+ years. I understand what you are say about "living within mostly white environments" but you are most likely going to be in a mostly white environment all the time you are in Portland. Good Luck

[EnricoV]

All those things exist in Portland. I sometimes think that people who claim they don't live in Hillsboro, or some other suburb.

The majority of African-American "themed" businesses (though I can't think of any specific African American museums) will be in the North or North-East section of town. And I think you'll find higher percentages of African-Americans east of the river than you will west. Basically, the further away from the river you get, you'll find less diversity you'll find.

But basically, as far as ethnicities go, you'll find higher percentages of Asians and Hispanics in Portland.

I can't imagine anyone can really go through downtown Portland without seeing African-Americans. That seems like an exaggeration; or an unobservant person.

[gatorman]

Portland is not diverse by any stretch of the imagination. At least not if you have some familiarity with other cities.

[jojo4]

Originally Posted by MsTia

Although I consider myself a person that loves a variety of cultures including music, food, and people period, I still would like to know if there are places such as salons that do ethnic or "Black" hair, braiding, or restaurants that serve soul food or soul vegetarian food, museums, and clubs that play both rock, hip hop,etc. in Portland? Does anyone know?

Also, from my research, Portland doesn't sound very diverse and seems segregated with most African americans living in "certain sections". Is this true? Are some areas more welcoming for diversity than others? if so, which ones?

Any thoughts or answers to these questions would be greatly appreciated.
I should also add that I have mostly lived within mostly "white" environments but there has always been places nearby that were more diverse that was accessible.

Like the other posters said, West of the river, you definitely don't see as many black people. You do see some. I live near PSU and I have two African Americans on my floor. A single guy and an older retired gentlemen in an interracial marriage. Once you cross the river to the East side, I see many more black people. I always see many AA on the MAX when I take it to Lloyd center or airport. I saw many black people when I drive around on MLK.

I think I saw a black hair barbershop on MLK. There are BBQ places. I heard Screen door is good. Russle street BBQ is good. Queen of Shiba on MLK has great Ethiopian vegetarian food. I don't think there are any black club in Portland, but I'm 10 years out of date.

I think Portlanders are pretty tolerant in general.

[subsound]

Lloyd Center is about as diverse in color as you can get in Portland, plus up the 8 line...not to say it's really diverse in total. I have not seen anyone really cares.

There are people of many different backgrounds, which I think is pretty neat.

[Rhiannon29]

I agree with most of what is said here. I am black and currently live in the NW area; there are quite a few minorities in general living here, but not a whole bunch. As far as AF-AM, they live all over, but the majority do reside in the North/Northeast and that is where you will find the most businesses that cater to AF-AM. Parts of the NE are kind of run down/shady, but other parts have half-million dollar homes. I don't know too much about salons because while i have dreads, i maintain them myself. Hope this all helps!

I think PDX is pretty tolerant for the most part, but it's a fact that it's a very homogeneous city.

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Originally Posted by beatphl

Here is the deal. You are not going to fine what you are requesting in Portland. I have gone for days without see a black person in the downtown area. Okay that is not exactly true there is this one guy I see a lot. But I guess the point is that it is in fact the same guy and that there are so few that I know it's the same guy. Diversity is not one of Portland's finer features. There seems to be a small number of black people living in Northeast Portland but they call that the ghetto. You can go to the Lloyd Center Mall and get a nice slice of diversity. Haven't seen a salon around or soul food but there must be one somewhere after all I have only been here for 5+ years. I understand what you are say about "living within mostly white environments" but you are most likely going to be in a mostly white environment all the time you are in Portland. Good Luck

I'll second this post.

Portland is a fairly "sleepy" racist city. For all its liberalness, tolerance is a weak point. This is more of a gay community than racial diverse one.

[roneb]

I'll not try to argue that Portland is racially diverse, certainly it is less so than most cities its size. But everything the OP asked about CAN be found with some looking. Not sure about the poster who said they only saw one black person in downtown. I've in recent years noticed more blacks living in SW/Burlingame area. Seeing as the North/NE has a poorer reputation for schools, I assumed they made the move for their kids. At least that's the rationale I usually heard when I was teaching in N Portland.

[Nell Plotts]

When I lived in Portland there were several A-M executives living in the Westover neighborhood (the hill above NW) and in West Linn. I point that out because concentrations of any group is impacted by their income (cost of housing), convenience to employment, and social networks. Back in the early 50s I recall someone talking to my parents about the fact that he was about to sell his nearby home to a Black family, their response was that they were the same as anyone else... all they want are nice neighbors.

There are groups of teens in every urban city that play havoc. Most of the action plays out in low income areas to the detriment of their residents, although there was one gang shooting in a nice mall near Seattle recently. I would want to check on criminal activity in any neighborhood I was considering moving to. If car prowls are an issue you want a garage for example.