Upper School Library: Racial Justice Resources

Strong Black Women
...who made a difference

We should all know more about the contributions of strong black women to history, politics, music, art, poetry, business, and other fields. Here are some helpful links.

(Photo:  Kimberlé Crenshaw, from Wikimedia Commons.)

Nine Influential Women in Black History You Won't Hear About at School
This article from Mic.com offers quick bios and photos of several influential American women and trans women in the US. We've used this source as a starting point for the Upper School Library's February 2022 gallery exhibit, Strong Black Women.

BlackPast
This online project of scholars, students, and independent researchers explores and documents black history.  The group is based in Seattle. Check out their Oregon page for links to articles, and to discover interesting tidbits, such as the fact that  Nikole Hannah-Jones, founder of the 1619 Project, used to be a reporter for the Oregonian. 

New York Historical Society:  Women at the Center
Fantastic, short articles, many about women of color who were/are legal scholars, critics, activists, and more. Check out their Spotlight on Radical Women Journalists of Color.

From Civil Rights to Diss Tracks: How Black Women Have Shaped US Culture
The online magazine Rutgers Today interviews their faculty member who co-authored A Black Women's History of the United States. 

Black History in Portland
A quick overview of prominent Black people's contributions to Portland's history, complete with links. Travel Portland collaborated with the Skanner, a NE Portland Black community newspaper, in developing this page.

Blacks in Oregon (The Oregon Encyclopedia online)
An online chapter features a quick history of the Black community in Oregon. Published by the State of Oregon, with lots of work by the Oregon Historical Society.

Selected Books from the US Library's Collection
The library holds a significant collection of books on the topic of racial justice. Here's a sampling.