Beyond Portland's Progressive Image: A Journey Through Housing History
In a powerful and eye-opening tour organized by the Fair Housing Council of Oregon, real estate professionals recently explored Portland's complex housing history, confronting uncomfortable truths about discrimination and displacement while seeking lessons for creating a more equitable future.
The impact of this educational experience resonated deeply with participants. As one agent reflected, "It was very informative and I'm sure left everyone with much to reflect on, scary how easily history can repeat itself in harmful ways." Another noted the lasting impact: "I did this tour a couple of years ago and still learned so much, and it was just as powerful if not more!"
VanPort: A Community Lost
Ed's journey from Birmingham to Vanport in 1944 reflects a pivotal chapter in Portland's complex racial history. Due to discriminatory redlining practices, Black residents were confined to specific areas - Albina, Giles Lake, and Vanport - with the latter becoming home to the largest concentration of African Americans. Despite these restrictions, Vanport flourished into a vibrant community complete with schools, businesses, social spaces and natural beauty of outdoor spaces. The community even saw progressive leadership from JW Hamilton, who challenged the Housing Authority's segregated classroom policy, believing that children who had already faced significant upheaval deserved an integrated educational experience.
The devastating flood of 1948 marked a tragic turning point in Ed's story and Vanport's history. After watching the rising waters with his brothers, Ed, like many others, initially believed they would return to their neighborhood one day but that day never came. Over 18,000 people lost their homes and community. As people searched for housing after the flood, they would hear about available units, only to be told they weren't open to Black people.
Ed's story wove together warm memories of his mother, brothers, and friendships with the heartbreak of losing their home and facing housing discrimination in Portland.
Japanese Internment: A Dark Chapter
The tour included a haunting visit to the Portland Expo Center, where Japanese families were forcibly removed from their homes and businesses to this former livestock facility after Pearl Harbor. Joni Kimoto gave a powerful and moving account of her experience as a small child having her family being deemed “enemy aliens” and forced from their homes and businesses. The Expo Center was hastily converted into a temporary holding facility. The conditions were deplorable - makeshift rooms without ceilings, minimal privacy, and unsanitary conditions. Yet, even in these circumstances, the community showed remarkable resilience, supporting one another through their ordeal. For our group to look into the room where this happened, and hear Joni’s story was especially heartbreaking. Joni's family demonstrated remarkable resilience through their internment, and their tight-knit community's dedication to supporting one another created lasting bonds that endured well beyond their release.
Portland’s troubling History of Discriminatory Real Estate Practices
Portland's real estate history includes troubling practices of systemic discrimination. Real estate agents and lending institutions historically engaged in redlining and steering - practices that deliberately restricted where people of color could live by denying services or directing them away from "white" neighborhoods. This discrimination extended to Portland's Chinese community, who faced severe restrictions despite establishing a significant presence in the city. By 1900, Portland had grown to host the second-largest Chinese community on the West Coast, even in the face of the discriminatory Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. In the area now known as the West Hills, Chinese farmers created thriving agricultural businesses, only to have their livelihoods stripped away when white business owners successfully lobbied to ban Chinese vegetable vendors. In a stark reminder of the city's complex past, what is now Providence Park - a beloved community gathering space - once served as a meeting place for the Ku Klux Klan, highlighting how deeply racial prejudice was once woven into the fabric of the city.
Moving Forward: Our Responsibility
As real estate professionals in Portland today, we acknowledge this difficult history while working toward positive change. This means:
Recognizing the ongoing impact of historical discrimination and displacement
Actively supporting fair housing initiatives and anti-displacement policies
Promoting responsible investment that considers community health and diversity
Maintaining a commitment to continuous learning and accountability
Understanding this history isn't just about acknowledging past wrongs - it's about ensuring we create a more equitable future for all Portland residents.
“That was a really valuable and motivating experience. I appreciate that our brokerage emphasizes this kind of field trip and that we show up for it. I have no doubt this experience will resonate in our work.”
To learn more about these tours and get involved, head to https://fhco.org/tours-exhibits/
