How do society's institutions work for everyday African Americans? Has the election of a Black president changed the circumstances of African Americans in Oregon? What are different Black people experiencing in this day and age?
The Urban League of Portland attempts to answer these questions and more with the release of the updated State of Black Oregon report, being released to the public on Monday, July 27.
It has been 17 years since the last publishing of the report, which outlined disparities in living standards between White and Black Oregonians. The new report also reveals how living standards have changed – and not changed -- since the early 1990s.
The report takes a wide look at the lives of Black Americans, examining history, economics, education, criminal justice, housing, health, environmental justice, child welfare, and civic engagement. In many cases, the Urban League describes the personal experiences in detail of notable and unknown African Americans. Contributors to the report include PSU's Dr. Darrell Milner, the African American Alliance's Joyce Harris, OSU's Dr. Robert Thompson, Dr. Victor Merced of Oregon Housing and Community Development and Sen. Avel Gordly, among many others.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the release of the "State of Black Oregon" report at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 27 at Two World Trade Center, 121 SW Salmon St. in Downtown Portland.
Visit the Urban League of Portland online at www.ulpdx.org.
Pictured: President Marcus Mundy and Midge Purcell, organization coordinator and public affairs manager. Photo by Brian Stimson.