Willamette Week

Many Oregonians Lost Insurance Coverage During the Pandemic—the Worst Possible Time

Black people losing coverage, while simultaneously facing higher rates of poverty even before the pandemic, places them further from getting out of that poverty.

The COVID-19 Pandemic Increased Hunger in Oregon’s Communities of Color

The Census Bureau asked residents to choose from four options: 39% of Black people marked that they had enough to eat the previous week—the most food-secure option—compared with 62% of non-Hispanic white people.

The Virus Is Still Hospitalizing People of Color at a Greater Clip as They Are Vaccinated More Slowly

Since the pandemic began, Black, Indigenous and Pacific Islander communities have had higher COVID-19 hospitalization rates than all other racial groups.

New Data Shows Higher Education in Portland is Leaving Black Students Without a Diploma

“If you’re working to keep the lights on and you have school, working to keep the lights on is going to take priority.”

When Everyone Was Sent Home, Not Everyone Stayed Connected. Who Has Internet Access in Multnomah County?

The pandemic exposed existing racial disparities in access to computers.

When the Eviction Moratorium Ends, the Toll on Black Households Will Be Extraordinary

For the average Black household to pay just one month’s back rent by saving 10% of its earnings would take 5.7 months.

A Disproportionate Number of 211 Calls in Multnomah County Come From Black People

The 211 line offers an alternative to calling a 911 system that has not always been friendly to Black people and other people of color.

Some Portlanders Must Choose Between a Degree and a Meal

More than half of Black students at Portland State University reported insecurity about where their next meal was coming from.

A Common Blood Oxygen Test Fails to Detect the Worst Effects of COVID-19 in Many Black Patients

Michael Sjoding, a pulmonary physician and professor based in Michigan and originally from Salem, Ore., conducted a study on the device.

Black Residents of Multnomah County Face a Greater Risk of Homelessness

“Homelessness is best described as a collection of all massive systemic failures in society.”

Before George Floyd’s Death, Black Portlanders Were Killed by Cops at a Disproportionate Rate

“What happened this summer was not a new item for the black community—it was a new item for the white community.”

Who Has the Most Student Debt? Nobody in Oregon Is Keeping Track.

Across the U.S., Black people are burdened by college debt more than other racial demographics, in part because the racial wealth gap means Black students need to borrow more to attend college.

In Portland Public Schools, a Far Higher Proportion of Teachers Than Students Identify as White

“We are criminalizing behavior that is not criminal,” says former PPS teacher Nichole Watson.

Black Portlanders Are Killed Crossing the Street at Three Times the Rate of White Pedestrians

The pedestrian death rate per 100,000 was three times higher east of 82nd Avenue than it was west of 82nd.

Disparities in Dental Care May Be Growing, Thanks to School Shutdowns

With lack of access to care or oral health education, a simple cavity can become a grave problem.

Bias Crimes Have Spiked Since Racial Justice Protests Began. Most of the Victims Are Black.

According to the Oregon Department of Justice’s interactive portal, the number of reported bias crimes in the state more than doubled from May to June.

A Multnomah County Preschool Measure Could Prove Life-Changing for People of Color

“Access to preschool is a vital importance not only to parents but to improving child care, improving health care and improving housing.”

People of Color in Oregon Are Unlikely to Find a Doctor With a Shared Background

Single-Parent Families Are More Likely to Face Poverty, and They’re More Likely to Be Black

Black Mental Health Care Providers Are Greatly Underrepresented in Oregon

The Public Health Crisis of Racism Starts Early—With Who Gets Bullied at School

Black Oregonians Have the Lowest Rates of Homeownership

Black Portlanders Are Still Disproportionately Stopped While Driving and Walking

COVID-19 Exposed the Underlying Health Conditions That Shorten the Lifespans of People of Color

Portland Is Not Immune to Racial Disparities in Pregnancy-Related Complications and Deaths

New Analysis Shows Oregonians of Color Have Entered a Recession

Oregon’s Black and Indigenous Kids Are Disciplined at Twice the Rate of Their White Classmates

Portland Public Schools has drastic discipline gaps between white and Black children, especially in middle schools.

A 2019 Audit Found Deep Racial Disparities in Student Achievement in Portland Public Schools

When children live in poverty, daily worries become more focused on survival, and education may not be their primary concern.

Unemployment Rates Were Already Worse for Black Portlanders. Then the Pandemic Hit.

One of the reasons was discriminatory hiring practices.

Black and White People Sit at the Extreme Ends of the Multnomah County Wealth Gap

That gap has grown for the past 40 years and is ongoing.