[What follows is one of the many articles in the Mercury‘s Black Innovators & Changemakers issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds.]
History isn’t just in the black and white photos. It’s living and breathing, forever informed by the decisions we each make every sunrise. In the last ten years, there has been an incredible amount of activity to transform Oregon by its Black residents. Here are 28 moments, one for each day of Black History Month, that have shaped the state in the past decade.
1. Sneaker-Themed Coffee Shop Opens (2016)
Former Nike shoe developer Ian Williams grows from a mobile coffee cart to a full-fledged sneaker-themed coffee shop—Deadstock Coffee—in Old Town.
2. SummerWorks Program Sees Historic Growth (2016)
SummerWorks is a program that pairs local youth with paid intern opportunities at local businesses during the summer. Launched by Multnomah County Commissioner Loretta Smith, the program, which began with 11 young people, grows to 1,000+ participants.
3. Teaching With Purpose Conference Hosts Nipsey Hussle (2017)
NE Portland native Karanja Crews hosts his 8th annual Teaching with Purpose Conference. Rapper Nipsey Hussle keynotes, less than two years before he was murdered.
4. Co-Operator of Portland’s First Black Owned Cab Company Dies (2017)
Willie Mae Young, who helped operate Beacon Cab, the first Black-owned cab company in Portland, dies. She was also the first Black nurse at a prominent hospital on the city’s westside.
5. Williams and Russell Property Returned to Community Control (2017)
Two acres, seized in the heart of Portland’s Black community for an expansion of Legacy Emmanuel Hospital that never happened, laid bare for decades. The City of Portland, in cooperation with the hospital, return the land at N. Williams and Russell to Black community members to determine the future of the site’s development.
6. “Yes, There Are Black People in Portland” Billboards (2018)
Benson High graduate Aminé releases his first studio album Good for You on the heels of his platinum-selling single “Caroline.” To promote the album, he launches viral billboards poking fun at the perception of his hometown.
7. Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center Begins Work to Transform Black Arts Facility (2018)
Commissioned by Charles Jordan, the first Black city councilor in Portland, this firehouse-turned-performing arts facility becomes a treasured hub of Black arts in the ‘80s. After a series of financial hits leaves the building vacant, Commissioner Amanda Fritz stands up an advisory committee to restore it to its rightful legacy.
8. Green Hop Opens as Nation’s First Hip-Hop Dispensary (2018)
Karanja Crews and Nicole Kennedy launch this green and yellow business which becomes Portland’s first hip-hop themed dispensary, later renamed Green Muse.
9. First Juneteenth Celebrated in Gresham (2019)
Beyond Black hosts the first Juneteenth celebration in Gresham, Oregon. The celebration brings thousands of people to Vance Park with music, art, food, and an official proclamation.
10. Jo Ann Hardesty Becomes First Black Woman Elected to Portland City Council (2019)
Dedicated police reform advocate Jo Ann Hardesty elected as the first Black woman on Portland’s city council. The historic race sees her face off against Loretta Smith, who is also Black.
11. Portland Street Response Launches (2019)
This unarmed, trauma-informed first response program changed the 911 infrastructure. Championed by Commissioner Hardesty, this program offers a real alternative to calling police for disturbances and emergencies.
12. “1619 Project” Debuts (2019)
This multimedia project crash-lands into the world’s consciousness, transforming how we talk about the legacy of slavery in America. Released by the New York Times, locals can be proud knowing its creator Nikole Hannah-Jones spent many years writing here for The Oregonian on its education beat.
13. George Floyd Protests Ignite Portland (2020)
George Floyd’s murder ignites the largest global protests for Black lives in history. Portland’s protests continue for more than 100 days, becoming a focal point in the movement amongst various calls to defund the police.
14. Geneva’s Shear Perfection Closes (2020)
This was the premier spot for Black Portlanders (and visiting celebrities) to get a shape up. During COVID, after more than 30 years in business, it was announced that “The Mayor of NE Portland” Paul Knauls was closing the shop’s doors.
15. Gresham Elects First Black Mayor (2021)
The decision came down to 13 votes: Travis Stovall goes on to defeat Eddy Morales in a highly competitive race—becoming the first Black mayor of Gresham.
16. Albina Descendants Secure $8.5M in Restitution (2021)
Following Albina residents seeing their family homes and businesses destroyed through eminent domain, and after a multi-year legal battle, the City of Portland allocates $8.5 million to a group of 26 descendants.
17. City of Portland Endorses Reparations (2021)
As part of the city’s federal legislative strategy, they endorse lobbying for reparations for Black and Indigenous communities. Every year since the late ‘80s, HR 40, a bill to commission a federal reparations study, is introduced in Congress but never advances to the full House for a vote.
18. 8 Seconds Rodeo Debuts (2023)
Thousands pack out this Black rodeo donning cowboy boots, hats, and other festive getups. This sold-out event becomes the first Black rodeo, which is birthed in part, during the first Juneteenth in Gresham.
19. 1803 Fund Launches (2023)
Rukaiyah Adams unveils the 1803 Fund, along with a $400 million investment from Phil Knight. Supporting the economic vitality of Black Portlanders, the fund stands as the largest Black-woman owned investment fund in the United States.
20. Intisar Abioto Curates Largest Black Takeover of PAM (2023)
Born out of her deep research, Intisar Abioto launches the largest curation of Black artists from the Pacific Northwest at Portland Art Museum. The mega-curation features 69 Black artists, dead and alive, in a prolific multimedia experience.
21. Ten Year Anniversary of Natural Hair Care Act (2023)
After learning that anyone who wanted to do someone’s natural hair had to do the same amount of training as a licensed barber or beautician, Amber Starks worked to change this law in Oregon. Her work leads to a series of natural hair care businesses being stood up throughout the state.
22. Janelle Bynum Becomes First Black Person Elected to US Congress in Oregon (2024)
During 2020 she was the only Black woman in the Oregon Legislature. In 2024, the centrist business owner mounts a winning campaign for a U.S. Senate seat, flipping the district from red to blue.
23. Racist Geography Names Replaced to Honor Black Pioneers (2024)
The US Board on Geographic Names renames Negro Jack Creek in Tillamook to Jack Creek, and Negro Creek in Douglas County to Triple Nickles Creek. The effort, led by Oregon Black Pioneers, respectively honors the life of a man named Jack (likely Black) who lived in the area during the late 1800s, and an all-Black army unit from WWII stationed in Oregon.
24. Albina One Opens (2025)
Albina Vision Trust, the largest restorative redevelopment effort in the nation, opens its first affordable housing development, Albina One. The 94-unit, family-centered housing is the first building erected to restore Lower Albina’s legacy as a hub of social and artistic innovation.
25. Portland Hip-Hop Week Turns 10 (2025)
Founded by Portland hip-hop pioneer Starchile and Portland Trail Blazers’ DJ O.G. One, this event, which kicks off with hip-hop performers in front of City Hall, was created to bridge tensions between local government and rappers. While Starchile passed in 2017 from cancer, the event grows from a single day to an entire week of events, including rap, dance, professional development, and an award ceremony.
26. “BlackOut: A 5-Year Retrospective of Portland’s Racial Justice Protests” Publishes (2025)
Featuring 12 essays and interviews, this special magazine created by Donovan Scribes and published by the Portland Mercury recounts the five-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder through the lens of Black Portlanders. 40,000 copies are circulated, inspiring art, a public forum, book clubs, and school curriculum.
27. The Skanner Shutters (2026)
After a celebrating a half-century of publishing, Oregon’s largest Black news outlet announces its closure. The paper, which went fully digital in 2020, released a special print edition with essays, archival photos, and celebratory notes to commemorate their 50th anniversary last summer. Owned by Bernie and Bobbie Foster, the paper’s closure leaves a void in the media ecosystem and the soul of Black Portlanders.
28. Portland Mercury Publishes its First Black History Month Issue (2026)
Traditionally, February has been the month we at the Mercury focus on sex and love. This year marks the first year we dedicate these pages to Black History Month.