Shirley Jackson, professor and chair of black studies at Portland State University, began her address at the University of Idaho Martin Luther King Celebrations by acknowledging that 2019 is a year of many anniversaries.
She said the founding of the Colored National Labor Union was 150 years ago, the formation of the NAACP was 110 years ago and James Earl Ray’s confession to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. occurred 50 years ago. From this brief history, Jackson lead into her main topic — the history of housing crises in African American communities.
“The issue of housing and homelessness impacts so many people,” Jackson said. “It is not just a civil rights issue. It’s a human rights issue.”
Jackson mentioned that King focused on areas with large African American populations — usually southern and central portions of the US — but not areas with smaller populations like the Pacific Northwest. According to Jackson, these areas still experienced discrimination and racism.
“It is rare for those outside the Pacific Northwest to understand the history of struggle of African Americans in this area of the US,” Jackson said.
She continued her speech with a detailed history of housing crises in African American communities of Portland, Ore. Making note of dates as she discussed this discrimination, she ensured that her young audience understood the recency of the issue.
According to Jackson, African Americans could not legally reside in Oregon until 1927 — only 92 years ago — which means the complex history of housing crises in Portland is less than a century old. Within that time, Jackson said Portland’s African American community withstood flooding that wiped out Vanport— Portland’s temporary housing solution in the World War II era — and the modern gentrification of historically African American neighborhoods.
“The increase in Portland’s population in the last 15 years has been accompanied by rising home prices on one end and rising homelessness on the other,” Jackson said.
Portland’s recent population increases have intensified the problem of gentrification and erasure of African American neighborhoods, she said. As Jackson discussed how these issues affect Portland today, she added details about King’s work and the civil rights movement at the end of his life.
“Let us remember his speeches were a roadmap, not the destination,” said Jackson.
The room erupted in applause as Jackson finished her speech. Students and faculty alike came forward at the end of the speech to speak with her. To the delight of Jackson, a middle schooler approached her asking what she could do to prevent discrimination in her school.
In addition to housing crises and homelessness, Jackson said she feels passionate about educating audiences about the history of medical experimentation on African Americans. She also encourages discussion on the activism of African American girls in the era of #MeToo,
“We need to remember history,” Jackson said. “Look at what (King) was attempting to do. Look at those things that he was doing before he was assassinated. He had really shifted his attention to things that were more economic issues, antiwar. We need to remember that he was really multifaceted and talking about issues not just for civil rights, but for human rights.”