In keeping with our recent theme, Karen Thompson suggested the following Colorlines article: How to Be a Racial Justice Hero, on MLK Day and All Year Long. It includes an infographic on being a “Racial Transformer.”
Have you marked your calendar yet for the LBCC-hosted conversation project, Why are there so few Black people in Oregon? September 7 is quickly approaching.
In her Learning the Language blog, Lesli Maxwell writes about demographic projections related to English language learners: ELLs to Keep Increasing as K-12 Schools Cross ‘Majority-Minority’ Threshold. The 2014-15 school year is projected to be the year that White students fall below 50% of the U.S. K-12 population. As Maxwell also reports, “By 2050, 34 percent of U.S. children younger than 17 will either be immigrants themselves or the children of at least one parent who is an immigrant, according to projections from the Pew Research Center.”
Need a good laugh about this? Check out comedian Hari Kandabolu’s video on Upworthy about the majority-minority shift.
The LBCC Department of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is excited to co-sponsor and invite you to a Conversation Project: Why are there so few Black people in Oregon?
The hosts will be Occupy Albany, the Rural Organizing Project, and the Oregon Humanities. Co-sponsored by the Albany Human Relations Commission and Linn-Benton Community College Department of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.
Have you ever wondered why the Black population in Oregon is so small? Oregon has a history not only of Black exclusion and discrimination, but also of a vibrant Black culture that helped sustain many communities throughout the state—a history that is not taught in schools. Author and educator Walidah Imarisha will lead participants through an interactive timeline of Black history in Oregon that speaks to the history of race, identity, and power in this state and the nation. Participants will discuss how history, politics, and culture have shaped—and will continue to shape—the landscape not only for Black Oregonians but all Oregonians.
When: Sunday September 7, 4pm-6pm
Where: Albany Main Library Community Room 2450 14th Ave. SE Albany, OR 97322
A copy of the flyer is linked here. Contact Peter Goodman 541-981-2882 for more information.
El Hispanic News has a nice piece online that features folks from OSU: Los Porteños: Building Bridges with Words. Los Porteños is a group of Latin@ writers in Oregon. In the article, they discuss the advantages of being able to share their writing with other authors who are bilingual and bicultural (if not multilingual and multicultural). They are preparing for an upcoming performance, WORDS THAT BURN, September 25-28, at Milagro in Portland. It’ll be part of La Luna Nueva Multidisciplinary Arts Festival.
While you’re on the El Hispanic site, you might also check out the article, Environmental Groups Lag Nation in Diversity.