Your Favorite Gerontologist :
I moved here a year ago, and the exclusion laws where always the first talking point in the "why would you move there conversations." Truthfully, the Black history here is rich, beautiful, and deserves to be acknowledged and celebrated. We must maintain our curiosity. Why would white people want to gatekeep a place, a stolen land, as beautiful as Oregon? The voices of those with vested interest will always be louder, be curious as to why. Moving here has had challenges, but the regulation to my nervous system is undeniable. I have had the honor of sitting in rooms with prominent Black leaders and activist like, Dr. Joy DeGruy and Teressa Raiford, Taishona Carpenter. Organizations like Brown Hope, Black Parent Initiative, DontShootPDX, Black Girl in Archives. Businesses that center Blackness like Third Eye Books, and Soulful Sips. There is a Blackness here that has fought to survive through the wickedness of exclusion laws. Yes, there are some places I don't go (cough cough.. Lake Oswego 👀) and some who don't return the "head nod," aint no difference than anywhere else we want to travel to in this country. They ain't stopping no show. I implore you to come see for yourself, and get some of this peace and fresh air. Come take up space, you belong EVERYWHERE.💖
2026-08-25 07:03:32