#blacksoulpdx
Urban Issues
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that as of 2015, the black population of Portland makes up roughly 6% of the total population. Currently, of the nearly 584,000 people living in the city, about 37,000 of them identify as black. This percentage is significantly smaller than most other major cities in the United States. The reasons behind this are unfortunate and complicated, and - though they have certainly informed our process - they will not be discussed specifically within the scope of this project. What concerns us most here is what resources are available for black people in Portland to gather and nurture their culture...particularly since this is a city with a much smaller and more spread out black population than most other urban centers in the United States.
In addition to the factor of a smaller population, there are also major issues with gentrification in numerous North and Northeast Portland neighborhoods that used to be predominantly black. Rental and ownership prices have dramatically increased and will continue to do so, and more white households and businesses are moving in. This means that many black people who once lived in “close-in” Portland have been forced to move to more affordable areas which are far away from their original communities. In addition, the people who still live in historically black neighborhoods comment that they have lost the community bonds that they once felt. James Armstrong, a board member of the non-profit, Alberta Main Street, says "We had a community check-in earlier this year... One of the overarching themes that came through is the street has changed. There’s less crime. People said, 'We’re happy about that. What we’re not happy about is the sense of community is gone. I have all these new neighbors and they’re not talking to me in the same way.'" (http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2015/12/alberta_street_equity.html#incart_related_stories)
In addition to the factor of a smaller population, there are also major issues with gentrification in numerous North and Northeast Portland neighborhoods that used to be predominantly black. Rental and ownership prices have dramatically increased and will continue to do so, and more white households and businesses are moving in. This means that many black people who once lived in “close-in” Portland have been forced to move to more affordable areas which are far away from their original communities. In addition, the people who still live in historically black neighborhoods comment that they have lost the community bonds that they once felt. James Armstrong, a board member of the non-profit, Alberta Main Street, says "We had a community check-in earlier this year... One of the overarching themes that came through is the street has changed. There’s less crime. People said, 'We’re happy about that. What we’re not happy about is the sense of community is gone. I have all these new neighbors and they’re not talking to me in the same way.'" (http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2015/12/alberta_street_equity.html#incart_related_stories)
Black Identity
The urban issue this project addresses is that of Black Identity in Portland, Oregon. In the disciplines of psychology, sociology, and anthropology, “identity” is defined as the conception, qualities, beliefs, and expressions that make a person (self-identity) or group (national or cultural identity) different from others. The group and cultural identity which we are labeling as “Black Identity” refers simply to all people living in Portland who identify as black. We have actively chosen to use the word “black,” rather than “African American” for several reasons. First of all, “black” is the more common term people within the community itself use when referring to themselves and others within this group. Second, the term “African American” may exclude numerous groups which still identify as “black,” such as recent immigrants from outside of the United States who are not American citizens.
Where To Find It
As a means to begin examining Black Identity within the context of urban design, this project has started to pinpoint places in the urban environment which are directly connected to black culture, such as black owned businesses, gathering places which serve primarily black participants, and neighborhoods where a significant number of black residents are living. For example, churches with black leadership and predominantly black congregations, restaurants with black ownership, and establishments such as barber or beauty shops where the primary clientele are black, are all proposed as places supporting and representing black identity.
Black Barber ShopsBlack-owned barbershops and beauty salons are so much more than just places to get a shave or a haircut. Their position in American culture is well-known: they have long been seen as a place where people gather to talk about issues and share life stories, especially those unique to the black experience.
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Black ChurchesChurches are another type of establishment that support and celebrate the black community in Portland. Not only do church congregations gather together weekly to worship, but many churches offer youth services as well as other community oriented programs that bring black people together.
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Black RestaurantsSome of the major places that black people can connect with their community and celebrate their culture are restaurants. Soul food originated in the South, and can be found in every black community in the nation. Portland also has a significant Ethiopian population. Many of the black owned restaurants in town serve delicious traditional Ethiopian food.
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What Places In Portland Highlight And Celebrate Black Identity?
We are curious to know more...
Rather than providing any definite answers or prescriptive solutions, this project aims to raise questions and start a conversation around how and where black people feel strong senses of place and identity in Portland: Do people currently feel connected or disconnected to these places we have pinpointed? How have these connections changed over time? What other places represent black identity? Are there major place types, such as parks, schools, etc., that should also be considered? Are new black churches, community centers, or establishments popping up in the areas people have moved to due as a result of gentrification, or are people forced to commute back and forth to the resources they once had nearby? |
How It Works
We've started mapping all of the places we can find in Portland, using Instagram as a tool to geo-tag and hash-tag locations in real time. The beauty of Instagram is that anyone and everyone can participate. If you visit a place of Black Identity in our community and want to share, you too can be part of this map production. For example, love that pile of chicken and waffles you're eating at Po'Shines in Kenton neighborhood? Snap a picture, post it on Instagram, geo-tag it to the cafe, and hashtag it with #blacksouldpdx and #blackpdx to introduce the location to the world. These tags will help Portland State University architecture students to make a complete map of black culture and resources in Portland by using an online mapping system through linkage of the Instagram map to the main map here (see below). Please feel free to follow our Instagram page and tag your photos to help develop this map. Ideally this map and its related Instagram page will generate a greater conversation about the black experience in Portland, Oregon.