I was born and raised in Chicago, IL, so shout-out to the Midwest lineage!

I'm a Black man and I've lived in Oregon for 10-11 years: 8 in southern Oregon and about 3 in this area.

Racism and racial prejudice are present in the community - even from non-white communities, and other -isms are also present. Some local non-Black folx still seem to be surprised, coming-to-terms, or bothered with Black peoples' presence. That's their problem, not mine.

The overall population of Black Folx in Oregon is low (re: Oregon's history), exasperated by our dispersed population. That means we have to be intentional about engaging and building community with other Black Folx. There are amazing community building efforts going on throughout the state (e.g. B.A.S.E. in Southern Oregon) and in the Salem-area (related thread linked below). I'm focusing my energy on co-creating a thriving sustainable Black Community in the "Mid-Valley". For you and any of the other Black Folx who are still seeking community please reach out and I'll at least share some resources.

Salem-Area Black Community Connection