Decisions made back when Oregon became a state had a long-lasting impact.
Like the relative paucity of African-Americans in the state. "Exclusion laws" forbidding black people from living in all or part of the state existed from statehood's dawn into the 20th century.
Oregon Humanities' "Conversation Project" offers an traveling presentation called "Why Aren't There More Black People In Oregon?"
It is in Cave Junction Thursday (April 7) and Cottage Grove on Friday (April 8). Scholar/poet/writer Walidah Imarisha leads the discussion.
She joins us by phone to talk about these and previous episodes in the project.