Portland's Albina Community: the History of Portland's African American Community (1805 to the Present)

From preface: "To gain a true understanding of the social, economic, and political makeup of the City of Portland is to understand the dynamics that shaped the settlement patterns of African Americans. This document is not intended to provide a set of conclusions about the African American experience in Portland. The intent is to educate the general public about the African American presence in Portland by highlighting significant places, events, institutions, individuals and group achievements from 1805 to the present. This project was conceived from the Albina Community Plan, a revitalization plan for inner north and northeast Portland. The plan covers a broad spectrum of policy areas and objectives and is intended to address the social and physical needs of the community. Past redevelopment efforts have taught community planners that preserving social and cultural resources is a key component to any successful revitalization plan. Preserving the past and using that past to anchor and enhance revitalization of inner north/northeast Portland is of critical importance to the future of Albina and to the City of Portland as a whole. A difficult challenge in documenting the cultural and social history of Portland's African American community is that much of the historic physical evidence has been removed during past redevelopment programs and projects. This document attempts to restore those memories through oral interviews, pictures and maps. Special thanks to all the oral interviewees who invited me into their homes and shared their time and stories. Without your assistance, this document would be incomplete. The term "Albina" means different things to different people. To many Portland residents Albina means any area on Portland's east side where there :is a large percentage of African Americans. It is important to note that the boundaries of Albina change throughout the history period. Prior to Model Cities the Albina district was located within the Eliot Neighborhood boundary. During the Model Cities program the boundaries associated with Albina expanded to include Eliot, Boise-Humboldt, Woodlawn, Vernon-King-Sabin and Irvington. Nineteen square miles of land bounded by Broadway on the south, Columbia Boulevard on the north, Chautauqua on the west, and roughly 33rd as the eastern boundary has been designated as the Albina Community Plan land use study area. The historic character and Albina's roots as a separate city prompted the Bureau of Planning to designate this effort the Albina Community Plan." Funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant administered by the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Portland's Albina Community: the History of Portland's African American Community (1805 to the Present)

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