African Americans in Oregon

U.S.A. Oregon

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hello all! My best friend was just offered a job in oregon at a hospital after living her life here in Florida. She was super excited and searching for info on places to live and everything else and I guess she found some articles about racism in Oregon and now is nervous. I told her I would post on here to see what you guys had to say. She will be in Portland but loves to escape to smaller towns and is excited about hiking and biking and all that other goodness. Is there anyone here that has experienced a lot of racism in Oregon? Or someone here who is African American and can let me know of their experience. I always thought people talked about how diverse and liberal Portland was so it came as a bit of a shock to me but she showed me a bunch of sites and now is nervous since she doesn't really know anyone out there. Help out if you can and thanks a lot from us Floridians : )

Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.

Oregon was a pro-Obama state, it's very liberal there. Oregon has tons of hippy types and California transplants. You won't find much overt racism there, that's a stereotype. I have relatives in Oregon and they are all over the top liberals. Oregon is a great place. I'm sure your friend will make friends, it's actually fashionable in many quarters to have non-white friends, she'll probably be at a social premium, since she won't have as much competition.

She'll do fine, she has nothing to fear.

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Specializes in ICU/ER/CCU.

I think oregon gets a reputation for being a bunch of hicks, its quite distressing, I've lived here my entire life and have never even met anyone resembling that stereotype. As far as racism goes, there are several african american nurses here and I see no signs of racism, although I am not african american myself so I would most likely not see if there were, but I have never thought oregon to have a large racist population.

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You won't find much overt racism there, that's a stereotype.

She'll do fine, she has nothing to fear.

I completely agree. I was born and raised in Portland Oregon and didn't leave until I was 20 years old, for the Air Force. The military was my first ever experience with racism. I am white but during my time in the military my eyes were opened to the redneck hillbilly racists that pollute this country. Trust me, they aren't from Portland! I'll just leave it at that. I can't wait to move back to Portland!!!

I just wanted to add that everyone else around the country thinks Portland has harsh winters, and all it ever does is rain, and they pronounce Oregon 'Orygon'. Don't believe anything you hear.

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care, Gero, dementia.

I just wanted to add that everyone else around the country thinks Portland has harsh winters, and all it ever does is rain, and they pronounce Oregon 'Orygon'. Don't believe anything you hear.

Well this winter has been harsh enough! In general, Portland does well in rain, but all the snow we've been having --- paralyzes the city!

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Well this winter has been harsh enough! In general, Portland does well in rain, but all the snow we've been having --- paralyzes the city!

I know what you mean. I remember back in I think 97, there was an ice storm, it was HORRIBLE. I feel for the people around the country experiencing that right not. I personally feel that PDXs weather is relatively mild.

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Two of the lesser-known but very liberal cities are Eugene and Corvallis. They are both college towns and there is a great deal of ethnic diversity, as well as a generally progressive outlook and intellectual curiosity. Both areas are also home to large medical centers, so if things don't work out in Portland and environs, your friend should consider going further south.

A wee word of advice: Eastern Oregon is probably about 50 years behind the western half of the state in terms of attitude and culture. Even I wouldn't want to live there, and I'm neither AA nor liberal........

I haven't found that. I moved to Eastern Oregon from Portland and haven't seen any evidence of racism here. Our community is very accepting of any background.

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care, Gero, dementia.

In today's paper:

Among the nation's 40 largest metro areas, only four -- none of them in the West -- are whiter than Portland, new census figures show.

As I said, while the overt racism may not be apparent, what I have heard from AA moving here from other places is that they just get tired of being the only non-white face in the room.

Here's the rest of the article: http://tinyurl.com/6sugxo

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Portland is very liberal and diverse. I have never heard of oregon being racist. that is interseting to me. I'm not african-american, but I have african-american friends and I've never heard of them having any trouble with anything or anyone. :)

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