The prolific journey of African Americans in Portland is rooted in the courageous determination of black pioneers to begin anew in an unfamiliar and often hostile territory. By 1890, the majority of Oregon's black population resided in Multnomah County, and Portland became the center of a thriving black middle-class community.

Portland, Oregon, though widely regarded as a liberal bastion, also has struggled historically with ethnic diversity; indeed, the 2010 census found it to be “America’s whitest major city.” In early recognition of such disparate realities, a group of African American activists in the 1960s formed a local branch of the Black Panther Party in the city’s Albina District to rally their community and be heard by city leaders. And as Lucas Burke and Judson Jeffries reveal, the Portland branch was quite different from the more famous—and infamous—Oakland headquarters. Instead of parading through the streets wearing black berets and ammunition belts, Portland’s Panthers were more concerned with opening a health clinic and starting free breakfast programs for neighborhood kids. Though the group had been squeezed out of local politics by the early 1980s, its legacy lives on through the various activist groups in Portland that are still fighting many of the same battles. Combining histories of the city and its African American community with interviews with former Portland Panthers and other key players, this long-overdue account adds complexity to our understanding of the protracted civil rights movement throughout the Pacific Northwest.

From the beginning, even before the wagon trains, African Americans have played an essential part in building Oregon. In Marion and Polk counties, they overcame the obstacles of wilderness, prejudice, and isolation, helping to create a vibrant community. They have often been left out of the paintings and statues, but Perseverance brings you many of their names and describes the ways they have made history, taking their rightful place among pioneers past and present in the Willamette Valley. Oregon history is the richer for Perseverance. Thanks to the Oregon Northwest Black Pioneers for documenting the history and character of Oregon 's African Americans. We can now fully embrace the African American community 's perseverance and hardships and triumphs and rejoice in their innumerable contributions to our state. This book shines a spotlight on some important Oregonians you ve probably never heard of, and fills large gaps in our state 's history. Mary Oberst, First Lady of Oregon, 2003 11 This carefully researched document brings the story of Oregon 's African Americans to life. Perseverance is a must read for those who love history and, even more, tales of the people who made Oregon. Victor Atiyeh, Governor of Oregon, 1979 87 This book fills a big gap in the history of African Americans in Oregon. I encourage history lovers to read it and learn more about an important aspect of Northwest history. George L. Vogt, Executive Director, Oregon Historical Society Perseverance offers an extremely insightful picture of Oregon history, providing a glimpse into the true diversity of Oregon society by giving voice to those who have previously been ignored. Readers will learn about the heritage of the African American community in western Oregon as well as the complexities and challenges they faced. Peter MacMillan Booth, PhD, Willamette Heritage Center at The Mill

What Makes That Black? The African-American Aesthetic identifies and defines seventy-four elements of the aesthetic through text and illustration. Using the magnificent camerawork of R.J. Muna, Sharen Bradford, Jae Man Joo, Rachel Neville, James Barry Knox, and more- as they point their cameras at Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and jazz artists such as Cécile McLorin Salvant and Wynton Marsalis- a specific artistic consciousness or sensibility visually unfolds. Luana even joins the camera crew as she shoots Oakland Street Graffiti--Backcover.

MAINE'S VISIBLE BLACK HISTORY, by H. H. Price and Gerald Talbot, explores how Black men and women have been integral parts of Maine culture and society since the beginning of the colonial era. Indeed, Mainers of African descent served in every American conflict from the King Philip's War to the present. However, the many contributions of blacks in shaping Maine and the nation have, for a number of reasons, gone largely unacknowledged. Maine's Visible Black History now uncovers and reveals a rich and long--neglected strata of state history and proves a very real connection to regional and national events.