Historic Tours of Discrimination

There was a time when Oregon was known as the most discriminatory state north of the Mason Dixie Line. Until 1926, it was illegal for African Americans to live in Oregon, which was home to more than 70,000 Ku Klux Klan members. "Sundown laws" prevented Asians and African Americans from even staying overnight in many cities.

These cruel facts are now history, but a history that has been forgotten by many. To learn more about Oregon’s past discrimination and honor its victims, take part in one of the Fair Housing Council’s historic tours of housing discrimination: "Fasten Your Seatbelts - It’s Been A Bumpy Ride." The first tour took place in 2008--40 years after the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Since then, tours have been organized for property management firms, housing consumer groups, high school and college students, corporate groups, and the general public.

While viewing the slideshow of past tours above, listen to the stories of two guest presenters. Mr. Ed Washington, former Metro Counselor, lived in Vanport as a child and witnessed the flood of 1948 that ravaged the state's second largest city at the time.

(link to MP3)

Ms. Valerie Otani is a local artist who has created traditional Japanese gates on permanent display at the Portland Expo Center to memorialize the 1942 Japanese internment camp that was located there.

(link to MP3)

By hearing from special guests like Mr. Washington and Ms. Otani, tour participants can experience discrimination from the victims' own perspective.

"If, as philosopher and poet George Santayana says, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," then "Fasten Your Seat Belts - It's Been a Bumpy Ride" is an excellent vehicle for achieving a brighter future for Portland."
- Julie Stegeman for The Asian Reporter (read more reviews below).

Following the tour, many groups elect to participate in a facilitated debriefing and discussion over lunch where many choose to share their reactions and their own stories. Most tour goers have commented that these discussions are among the most powerful moments of the day.

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Tour Specifications:

* At times there may be pre-existing funding sources available, allowing for reduced costs; please inquire.

Number of Participants

Typically one bus can accommodate 40-50 people. An ideal tour is 40-100 people (1-2 buses); maximum capacity is 200 people (4 buses).

Included in the Tour

FHCO provides tour guides and special guest presenters. Costs vary depending on the anticipated number of participants and, therefore, the number and size of the buses used; whether or not the tour is followed by a facilitated discussion or not, etc.

Currently, the FHCO is prepared to do Portland tours. We are also doing research in preparation for a Salem area tour. We are interested in developing tours in other areas of Oregon and SW Washington. If you're interested in having a tour in another area, please contact us to discuss the possibilities!

Requirements

Hosting organizations agree to handle logistics for any post-tour discussion (venue, meals and/or refreshments) as well as attendee registration, and event promotion.

Schedule a Historic Tour of Housing Discrimination

We would be pleased to lead a tour of your own community with your group or organization. If you have questions, please contact our Education and Outreach staff to check availability and expense details:

Diane Hess
Education Director
dhess@FHCO.org or 800/424-3247 ext. 108

.. . .. .. ..... . . ... ...... ..
Tour Brochure ............................Tour Flyer with
....................................................Comments from Riders

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FHCO Tours Make the News!

Read tour reviews and informative articles about past bus tours.

• FHCO's Bus Tour Featured in HUD's Annual Report
  HUD's Annual Review on Fair Housing, FY 2009, Published in 2010.
• A Bus Tour Through History
  Portland Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Newsletter, 12/2010
• Bus Tour Highlights City's History of Housing Discrimination
  Devan Schwartz. Street Roots Newspaper, 11/24/10
• Housing Council Commemorates Accomplishments, Seeks More Change
  Polina Olsen. Jewish Review, 05/01/10
• Highlights of Racism... the Tour!
  Sarah Mirk. Portland Mercury, 04/29/10
• Tour Examines Oregon’s Grim History
  Jake Thomas. Portland Observer, 04/28/10
• Tour Looks at Darkside of Oregon’s Housing History
  Portland Observer, 04/06/10
• Race Discrimination Lingers in Housing
  Lisa Loving. The Skanner, 04/01/10
• A Bus-Sized Window into Portland’s Discriminatory Past
  Ari Phillips. Willamette Week, 01/06/10
• Looking Back, a Tour Through Portland Housing Discrimination History
  Polina Olsen. The Jewish Review, 06/11/09
• It’s Been a Bumpy Ride
  Marie Lo. The Asian Reporter, 09/15/09
• Bus Tour Journeys Through Portland’s Discriminatory History
  Julie Stegeman. The Asian Reporter, 09/15/09

Past Tours

• To learn about FHCO's first, inaugural tour in Portland in April 2008 and see several pictures from the event, visit our Fasten Your Seat Belt 2008 page.
• Please also visit our Fair Housing Month 2009 and Fair Housing Month 2010 pages to see pictures from several subseqent bus tours.

To schedule a private tour for your company or organization, or to be notified of future open-regration tours, contact: Diane Hess, Education Director, dhess@FHCO.org or 503/223-8197 ext. 108.

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This page created by FHCO Volunteer, Maria Walters

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