Were you moved by the powerful voices found in BlackOut: A Five-Year Retrospective on Portland’s Racial Justice Movement—the glossy magazine from creator Donovan Scribes with the Portland Mercury, curated and written by Black Portlanders? 

Now you can go even deeper with a special City Club event featuring Scribes and three BlackOut writers in a panel discussion titled "State of Racial Justice: A Five Year Retrospective of Portland’s Black Lives Matter Movement" on Wednesday, June 18 at the Old Church.

Just as BlackOut featured Black Portlanders reflecting on the murder of George Floyd, Portland’s 2020 protests, and the work that still remains, the City Club’s first-of-it’s-kind State of Racial Justice event, created because of BlackOut, will bring this necessary discussion to life. 

Featured BlackOut panelists include:

Moderator Donovan Scribes—Award-winning writer and producer, former vice president of the Portland NAACP, and the creative visionary behind BlackOut.

Sharon Gary-Smith—Former president of the Portland NAACP, long-time racial and social justice freedom fighter, and women’s rights activist.

Justice Rajee—Director of Reimagine Oregon, Beaverton School Board member, and longtime organizer and activist.

Mac Smiff—Journalist, community-builder, and activist around Black culture and housing.

Plus a special, live hip-hop performance from Glenn Waco, as well as a screening of Dear Young Black Portland, a short film written by Scribes, narrated by Gary-Smith, and directed by award-winning filmmaker Devin Boss.

Seating is limited, so get your tickets now!

State of Racial Justice: A Five Year Retrospective of Portland’s Black Lives Matter Movement

Wednesday, June 18, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm (doors at 5:30)

The Old Church Concert Hall (1422 SW 11th Ave)

FREE and open to the public. Tickets here.