Journalism

My turn: Essay on racism in Lake Oswego prompts wide-ranging response

When I wrote a personal essay about racist tweets among students at Lake Oswego High School (“Lake Oswego’s worst-kept secret,” published March 17 in The Oregonian), I never expected such an outpouring of responses. The nickname “Lake No Negro” is known in many circles, and yet many people were shocked and frustrated to learn institutional …

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Occupy North East, We Are Oregon, Rep. Lew Frederick Host Ainsworth Foreclosure Forum

Instead of enjoying a sunny Sunday afternoon, members of Occupy North East (ONE) – a.k.a. ‘The Black Working Group,’ We Are Oregon and Ainsworth United Church of Christ (UCC) came together to discuss foreclosure and how churches can get involved. “Our position is that the struggle has to emanate from the ground up,” says Ahjamu …

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New Article: Jailin Gage: How One Teen Puts School and Sports Together

The first thing that stands out about Jefferson High School guard Jailin Gage is his humility. “I don’t want to put everything on me,” he says, with his father Johnnie and brother Johnnie Jr. at his side. Gage, who is also an honor roll student, led the school’s freshman basketball team to an undefeated season …

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New Article: Trayvon Martin: Portland Men, Women Gather for ‘The Conversation’

In response to the Trayvon Martin shooting, around 80 men and 20 women gathered at Self Enhancement Inc. (SEI) this past week to discuss police brutality and strategic action in the Black community. “We wanted to meet and figure out what people can do individually to change their communities,” says Blake Dye, organizer of the …

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New Article: Mom of Celebrated Jefferson High School Teen Publishes Book on His Fight Against Leukemia

Denise Sayles lost her son to leukemia ten years ago; today she is dedicating her life to making sure other moms – and their kids – have better options in the face of cancer. “Woody was a courageous, ambitious person,” she says. “He was full of life. Full of fun.” After years of grieving, she …

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New Article: Decolonize PDX Focuses on Prison System

When law enforcement cleared Occupy Portland demonstrators out of their downtown camps last fall, many worried that the movement would falter. This spring in North and Northeast Portland, a handful of new activist movements against racism, homelessness and foreclosure have been joined by Decolonize PDX — which is placing the prison industrial complex front and …

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New Article: Study: Almost 30 Percent of Portland’s Homeless are Black

This is my new article that appears in The Skanner. Blacks are overrepresented in Portland’s sheltered population, according to a new report by the Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness (ICPH). “This is something that no one really wants to talk about,” says co-writer Matthew Adams. “Media attention is focused on the one percent and …

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