Date: Tuesdays, May 7, 14, 21, 28, and June 4
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: SE Uplift | 3534 SE Main St.

Tier A Pricing: $249 ($30/hr or above wage earners)
Tier B Pricing: $199 ($16-29/hr wage earners)
Tier C Pricing: $149 ($15/hr or below wage earners)
See our Pricing + Generosity Policy for more information on tiered pricing. 

PUGS is about both learning and community. Register with a friend and get 25% off with the code YOUVEGOTAFRIEND

Despite Oregon’s progressive and forward-thinking reputation, our history tells another story – indeed, many refer to Oregon as the South of the North, as we have historically embraced segregation, exclusion and displacement. Now, the disparities between communities of color and white people are extreme.

Participants in this course will spend five weeks delving into our state’s history and our current realities. We will collectively build an understanding of how Oregon’s whiteness, historically and today, has functioned, an understanding that will help us move forward to develop a better future for us all.

Week One: What is race, anyway? We will explore how race as a construct, including whiteness, came to be in the United States. We will also look at the many manifestations of racism as it permeates our society. We will discuss our own impressions of Portland and its culture, as well as the current disparities between communities of color and white Oregonians, looking at each community and unique characteristics of each.

Week Two: Early exclusions and genocide - How was Oregon founded? Who were the first white people here? We will explore the early days of the Oregon Territory and the first years of statehood, and look at the ways Oregon's pioneers intended the state to be a white utopia.

Week Three: Segregation, Hate Groups and Deportations – As communities of color entered Oregon in greater numbers, how did many white Oregonians respond? We will examine the birth of segregation in Oregon, hate groups like the KKK, as well as the first of several catastrophic deportations in the state.

Week Four: World War II and the Aftermath – World War II and the years immediately following transformed people of color communities in Oregon. This week, we will explore Vanport, Japanese Internment, and the ways in which Latinx and Native communities were involved in the war effort. We will also look at the years immediately following the War, including at displacements, deportations and disinvestments.

Week Five: Time for Action – We will summarize the class together, share learnings and reflections, and discuss how we can help build a different future for our beloved communities.