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I grew up in California and moved to Portland to go to Univ of Portland in 1978. The whiteness was one of the first things I noticed about Oregon. What surprised me most was how people from "nice" areas of town,(read: SW) were afraid to go to North Portland. To me, the "bad" parts of town were better than many good parts of the Bay Area.

I then moved to Washington DC in 1981 which has a large black middle class which I had never experienced. It was the most integrated yet segregated community ever. Quite a dicotomy.

Until everyone realizes that it's not skin color that makes us different, but socio-economic and cultural beliefs that really keep us apart, there will be no progress. Like minds come together regardless of color. The unknown generates fear. It takes work on both sides to make this work.

posted 4 years, 9 months ago
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