State of Black Oregon report details gains, challenges among Black communities in Oregon

Think Out Loud

State of Black Oregon report details gains, challenges among Black communities in Oregon

Clean

Published on Oct 27, 2026, 12:47:07 PM
Total time: 00:22:42

Episode Description

Earlier this month, the Urban League of Portland released top-line findings from a new report that examined how Black communities across Oregon are faring. The latest State of Black Oregon — which follows up on a report of the same name from 2015 — found persistent challenges in education, while documenting substantial gains in several measures of civic participation, including voter registration and Black representation in the State Legislature. We talk with the study’s lead author, Jazzmine Waugh, about the new report and possible solutions to the issues it identified. We’re also joined by Aislyn Brown, a Multnomah County teen and Black cultural  librarian, to discuss the role of mentorship in building resilience among young Black Oregonians.

More about Think Out Loud

OPB's daily conversation covering news, politics, culture and the arts. Hosted By Dave Miller.