Black History Month: Shelton/Tews by Asher Davidson

The Rise and Change of The Albina Neighborhood

adavidson1864 — 2025-02-19 21:57:24 UTC

The Albina Neighborhood of Portland Oregon has been one of the major black neighborhoods of Portland's history. It has faced growth and shrinkage in the time it has been a part of Portland since 1891, originally it was mostly immigrants and black people looking for work at the nearby docks and railroads. Originally it was 68% black but as wealthy whites bought land for development it dropped to 28% black residents in only 10 years. At the beginning of WW2 vanport shipbuilding and community living program opened attracting 20,000 black workers. Still, the great Columbia flood of the late 1950s displaced 16,000 of them into an unforgiving housing market redlined against them. After the floods, the influx of black people moving into new neighborhoods like Albina and others saw white backlash against their new housing. Ultimately falling mostly into redlined neighborhoods and impoverished areas.

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/albina-portland-1870/

Harlem Cultural Festival

adavidson1864 — 2025-02-27 21:43:35 UTC

The Harlem Cultural Festival, or more commonly referred to as the Summer of Soul or the Harlem Soul Festival, was held in 1969 at Mt. Morris Park in New York City. Millions attended over the several weeks it was held, the vast majority of which were black with nearly no white people in attendance. It was iconic and monumental for black history, but yet most people have never heard of it, why?

The festival was not televised, only taped, and said tapes spent 50+ years in a basement gathering dust, only after "Summer of Soul" came out did it regain popularity. Additionally, it was held the same year as Woodstock and did not gather as much traction, politicians also worked against the festival out of fear it may become another race riot. However, one politician went against the trend, the mayor of New York, John Lindsay, supported and helped to fund the event as well as participate with organizers. Despite fears and irrationalities posed by politicians, there was no violence or rioting, the festival went off without a hitch, largely thanks to its organizer Tony Lawrence, who reached an agreement with the black panthers to provide security, set up vendors, and had the festival taped for future use.

The lasting political impact was largely diminished by it only being experienced by those attending and remembered only by them, but still to this day it remains an undeniably important part of black history as a symbol of togetherness and growth.

Langston Hughes

adavidson1864 — 2025-02-27 22:00:12 UTC

Langston Hughes was a black author, artist and activist in the early to mid 1900s. He was a major contributor to the Harlem Renaissance. Throughout his lifetime he traveled the world visiting China, Russia, Europe, and other places. What makes him so notable is his achievements as an author and his political impact in New York. He wrote 16 books of poetry, 12 novels, and 8 children's books and won upwards of five notable awards for his works. His political work in Harlem included plays, writing poetry, and protests. He died at he age of 65 in 1967 with his ashes now in the Schomburg Center for research of black culture.

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/hughes-langston-1902-1967/

Nina Simone

adavidson1864 — 2025-03-04 21:21:36 UTC

Nina Simone was a legendary black artist and singer, originally born as Eunice Kathleen Waymon. Her parents noticed her talent at a young age, describing her as a child prodigy. A fund was set up for her education, paid for by the residents of her home town, Tyron, North Carolina. She attended a year of Juilliard thanks to this fund but faced racial discrimination that kept her from continuing her piano career. Afterwards she began performing in jazz clubs and concerts, attracting the attention of the record label, Bethlehem, who signed her in 1957. a year later they sold one million copies of her record "I Love You Porgy". Her voice was described as “impossibly deep yet unmistakably feminine, lacerating in its intensity yet also capable of disarming tenderness. To listen to her voice was to feel almost hijacked by its power.” She followed a famous career in music for many years before divorcing her husband and manager to travel the world, ultimately settling in France where she passed away in April, 2003.

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/simone-nina-1933-2003/

The Portland Advocate on Racist School Closure

adavidson1864 — 2025-03-06 21:23:22 UTC

The Portland Advocate posted an article in June of 1981, this article covered the racist school closures happening in PPS. Spokespersons claimed it was not racially motivated, but when questioned about the populace it affected, they chose not to comment further. They only closed the mostly black schools and left the mostly white schools open. Jefferson students protested against the school closure. Pubic hearings and board votes followed, leading to closing only one school, Washington-Monroe, the third highest black populated school. The Black United Front (BUF) spoke against the actions of the school board as they were forcing students into "Desegregated" schools that did not adequately provide for black students. Leading to students facing further racism and discrimination.

Anita Scott Coleman

adavidson1864 — 2025-03-06 21:29:05 UTC

Anita Scott Coleman was another revolutionary figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Her writings, poetry, screenplays created massive waves, pulling from her southwestern lifestyle and history. Herr's brought about a different world outlook for many Harlem citizens as racism and discrimination were rampant even in the west and north where she had traveled and faced struggles. Coleman's publications include essays, poetry, screenplay, novels, short stories, and many more pieces of writing, she won national awards for her work and impact on the world.

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/coleman-anita-scott-1890-1960/