(NAME-MCE) What it feels like to be Black in Oregon

[Anselmo Villanueva]

What it feels like to be Black in Oregon

Wednesday, March 26, 2008
The Oregonian

http://www.oregonlive.com/commentary/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1206485746114610.xml&coll=7

I am not a native Oregonian, so understand that it took some time for
me to get adjusted to the culture here. But I was struck by a recent
headline in The Oregonian: "Oregon's history pockmarked with racial
injustices" (March 19). Well, I can tell you that Oregon's present is, too.

After five years of living here, it's clear to me that Oregonians are
most comfortable when their environment is culturally homogeneous.
Because I am an African American woman from the South, Oregonians
often assume I dislike living here because it's "so white." Honestly,
the rainy weather irritates me more than anything else because it
disrupts my active lifestyle. I'm a 20-something college graduate and
a veteran of the armed services. And yet I'm reminded every day that
I'm marginalized here, that the best way for me to fulfill the basic
human need of acceptance and belonging is by conforming to the
dominant culture.

That's a confirmation for me that the racial tolerance that most
Oregonians claim to possess is really more about a pseudo-diversity in
which all are not welcome.

I can't tell you the number of times I've been rejected, berated and
downgraded here. I'm black, proud of it, intelligent and attractive.
But many people here seem uncomfortable with that. When I attend a
movie or go shopping or go out for a night on the town, it often seems
that people are nervous in my presence. They try to be nice, but it
comes off as phony and unworthy of my trust. Since I'm the only
African American in my college classes, at my job and in my support
group, shouldn't I be the one who's nervous?

So I propose that Oregonians just get over themselves, because not
everyone wants to abandon her racial identity to be perceived as less
marginal in yours. That homogenous, elitist mentality that's so
prevalent here gives Oregonians a false sense of superiority and
entitlement to judge others. Quite frankly, that's not the way the
world works.

Racial injustices in Oregon and across America aren't just black
history; they're everyone's history.

Oregonians should learn to look past their judgments of others who are
different than themselves. If they don't, then 10 years from now, the
headlines will still be informing us of the negative aspects of racial
inequality in Oregon.

Change starts from within, so we have the power to change the present
and the future. So think about this: If what I've said has offended
you or if you think that in some way I've judged you unjustly, then
hold on to that feeling, because then you'll know how it feels to be
black in Oregon.

Catrina N. Bush lives in Portland OR

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http://www.oregonlive.com/letters/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/120666757162360.xml&coll=7

Who's really prejudiced against whom?
Friday, March 28, 2008

Catrina Bush's March 26 column ("What it feels like to be black in
Oregon") was thought-provoking. I did have one question, though. She
says that Oregonians "try to be nice, but it comes off as phony and
unworthy of my trust."

Has she noticed any difference between how people react when they're
trying to be nice and how they react when she reaches out and tries to
be nice to them first?

KEN KARSTED Beaverton

I have a few questions in response to your recent opinion piece. Does
Catrina Bush mean "white" when she says "Oregonian," or is she also
accusing the Asians, Hispanics, Middle Easterners and Native Americans
who live here of being racially intolerant?

Could there be something about the way she projects "I'm black, proud,
intelligent and attractive" that makes people uncomfortable?

Take your own advice, Ms. Bush: "Just get over" yourself and stop
imagining "Oregonians" want you to abandon your racial identity. And
to quote you again: If what I said has offended you or if you think
I've judged you unjustly, hold onto that feeling, because then you'll
know how it feels to be white and accused of racial intolerance.

RENEE SOASEY Northeast Portland

After reading Catrina Bush's critique of Oregon's "pseudo-diversity,"
I felt the need to respond. Bush says Oregonians have "a false sense
of superiority and entitlement to judge others." But she fails to give
any specific examples. In fact, she shows that she's become the very
thing she is criticizing, by displaying her own false sense of
superiority.

MICHAEL RILEY Southeast Portland

I was surprised by the column on "What it feels like to be black in
Oregon." I, too, am a well-educated African American woman who moved
here about five months ago from Southern California.

I've been amazed at the friendliness of Oregonians. I work as a
librarian for Multnomah County, so I work with the public every day.
Oregon is leaps and bounds ahead of other places I've lived. Southern
California, the so-called melting pot, was anything but that. In my 18
years there, there were many times when I felt my color and gender
were looked down upon. After a while, I expected people to be
narrow-minded, so I didn't know what to expect when we moved here.

I'm not saying Bush hasn't experienced what she says she's
experienced. But I will say this: Sometimes people who've experienced
the hurt of bigotry get so caught up in that hurt that they see it
everywhere. I say: Give people a chance, and most will give you one.

FELICIA FULKS Southwest Portland

I would like to tell Catrina Bush what it feels like to be white in
Oregon. Although I realize there are some segments of white society
that are racist, it is no more fair to paint all whites in Oregon with
the same brush than it is to paint all blacks with the same brush.

Several years ago I worked with, and considered myself a friend of, an
African American man who told me he was African American, not black. I
became confused as to how to address people of color, some of whom, by
the way, don't want to be called people of color.

I'm truly sorry Bush feels the way she does about Oregonians, because,
for the most part, they're a great bunch. They would want her to feel
welcome here. I would like to end this by saying to her: "Welcome."

JOHN BUXMAN Oregon City