I visited Portland for 3 months in 2017, so a while ago. I landed in the NW side of town a block away from MLK street (I have a keen sense for diversity). The shop keepers were good to me nearer where I stayed, but that feeling that is hard to put into words kept me inside that summer more than it should have in such a beautiful place. Your video is very validating, thank you!

I like it want to know more about other city's/states 😊❤

I'm not a fan of Oregon in general. The further south you, the worse "that feeling" is. I've lived in Tacoma for almost ten years and have been to Portland maybe five times. When I drive home to California, I try to gas up in Vancouver and drive as far through Oregon as possible without stopping.

I’ve been to Portland one time before moving to Seattle. I stayed there for a few days and I also felt weird to me too, maybe like I needed to be more careful. People were nice but I just felt like I didn’t fit in there. Living in Seattle is way more comfortable to me as a Black woman than Portland (with the few days I spent there). Great video!! Could y’all check out some of the islands off of Seattle?

@TravelingWhileBlack1

2 жыл бұрын

We have checked out Vashon, Whidbey, and Bainbridge… we have lots more to check out. 😊

@radiantonion8615

2 жыл бұрын

I live here and feel like I don't fit in.....that's normal..

@kidindie6

2 жыл бұрын

@@radiantonion8615 I realized it's better to become self reliant and just enjoy your own company. I feel what you saying though, I just accept it and embrace the nature. OR is a beautiful state tbr

@introvertedtaurean6626

Жыл бұрын

Agreed

I've been to portland a couple times, my awkward moment was kinda funny where I was at a folk music festival and a white lady looked shocked to see me there and sorta just froze with the user error linda stare for 3 seconds. Then she snapped out of it and said hello and joked about it. Gives me the impression that Portland is much less diverse than Seattle if Black people can give white people a 'what is he doing here?' thought.

@TravelingWhileBlack1

Жыл бұрын

Yea we get ya there… when we went back we connected with the Portland Black community and it helped us feel a lot more comfortable in the area.

Long time resident, raised my family in Portland metro after moving from upstate New York. Few thoughts, sorry for the long thread. DRIVE TIME. Very important during weekdays to position your timing to avoid 2 rush hours (Tacoma/Seattle and Vancouver/Portland). Like leave after 9am either way, and/or after 6pm. If not, 3 hour commute could (and has for me) easily become 5 hours. PITTOCK MANSION. I always take out of town visitors here, with a visit across the main road to the International Rose Garden (real roses, not the Arena), for the Outside view, not inside view as you heard from others. On a clear day the views from there are Mt Ranier, St. Helens and Adams on the WA side, and Mt. Hood down to Jefferson on the OR side. Amazing view. Locals will bring lunch and eat on the lawn overlooking Portland. Also, there are many hiking trails around Pittock mansion that you can start or end there if you like to hike. HISTORY. Try Oregon Historical Society, which have have hosted rotating local black history and indigenous exhibitions, as I recall. Its been awhile. SEATTLE/PORTLAND SISTER CITIES. Yep. We have found them to be very similar. Obviously Seattle is bigger but we actually stopped travelling to Seattle because we could find similar things here. We both have mountains and coasts within an hour. We both have foodie scenes. We both have great waterfalls and outdoor activities. I do plan to watch some of your Seattle episodes, because maybe we will take a trip up again, with some local advice. OTHER PORTLAND AREA SUGGESTIONS. The Columbia Gorge and Multnomah Falls is a great place for hiking, and not too far, still on the WA/OR border. Go across from there to Hood River and do the Fruit Loop. There were already some good suggestion about Alberta Street district. Not too far away on the Coast - the Seaside and Cannon Beach one-two combo is enjoyable. COMFORTABILITY RATING. Interesting. All I can do is share my own truth and experience. I have been here 17 years now and I have never felt any red flags. I actually have felt more comfortable here than upstate New York, where I did get red flags and heard racist comments, as well just an uncomfort in the less diverse suburbs. However, I think for some people, including myself when I first moved here, the low percentage of African-Americans in Portland is startling. (6% Portland, 3% State, and less in my little town in the metro area) I had to get used to not seeing others that look like me. When I was in those kind of less diverse places back East, I would be on high alert. I had to learn to tell my brain it was ok, and to relax and just enjoy the weirdness of it. Anyway, those are my thoughts. I will look for some Seattle things to do on your subscription, and maybe we will make the trip up again. : - )

There’s plenty to see in Seattle. I wonder what part of Seattle these two live. When I got settled in Seattle, the first place I went to was Bruce Lee’s grave, with flowers. He taught all the fellows how to fight. You’re whooped before we even start. Next place was Smith Tower; the first skyscraper west of the Mississippi River. After being here six months, in the summer time, I took a tour of Mt. Rainer, it was exciting and spectacular. I read the history of Seattle before I came out here, and In the Denny clan was a land surveyor. Seattle is an engineering feat. The last place I went to, before the you know what, was the Ballard Locks. Its engineering marvel. A really good park to visit: Olympic Sculpture Park !!

Next time try something different for a day trip , round trip on Amtrak.

Pittock Mansion...the best part are the grounds and the views of the city. uh...donuts are donuts..to me and I live here...Blazer games ARE fun!..the 4 out of 5 thing for comfort...man, people here are a little....ummm, they can give off weird vibes, doesn't matter What color you are Lol....you should go to Kenton and visit Po' Shines. There are many other great, relatively cheap restaurants as well. Portland is known for it's restaurants! Try Mississippi or Alberta neighborhoods too! lots of good places to eat!

Portland resident here! I feel like people here want us to ignore the racial homogeny in this city because of the west coast liberal politics that they pose. You see BLM and Pride flags everywhere but that really makes me feel no more comfortable as a black Muslim woman in this city. I like to see people that look like me. Glad y’all had a good time though! Thank you for the content.

@greghauser742

2 жыл бұрын

'Pose' is a good word for it.

Next time you are here in Portland it is my honor to host you for breakfast or launch or dinner (not all ): ) with my family . Meanwhile I lived here in the city called WIEIRDO Portland/PDX for more than 20 years. I have seen all the changes the good and the bad. Of course, with limited time there no enough places, events and neighbors to see. There is much to discover in this weirdo city, diversity, night life, homelessness, life style, ..... after all it is not bad city to live in. it is not small town also it is not big city like Seattle that waste your time in free way. The weather is not bad too.

A'hem. Powell's Books, OMSI, the zoo.

I agree with this review because I visit Portland for work. I love the uniqueness, those doughnuts are delicious, and while I haven’t experienced anything horrible, there is feeling of hmm, not quite 100% comfortable. I’m going to check out your channel (just learning about y’all!) since I’ll be back in Portland AND Seattle in July for a week

@TravelingWhileBlack1

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Let us know if you have any questions. 😊

Hello Anthony and Marlie! I heard the OPB spot about your KZread channel. I really enjoyed it. My husband and I own Clackamas River Outfitters out of Estacada, OR, where we rent kayaks and paddleboards as well as offer whitewater kayak and paddleboard tours and a retail location too! Anyway, I heard that you would come back to Oregon for the nature and so 8f you like water adventures and haven't made your plans yet, we wanted to extend a personal invitation to come out and see us and maybe go for a paddle! Either way, we wish the best for you in your adventures and sharing your experiences with others!

@TravelingWhileBlack1

2 жыл бұрын

We let you know if we will head out that way! Thank you for the invite!!

Did you peep the view from Pittock? I've been there a ton of times but never gone inside haha

@TravelingWhileBlack1

2 жыл бұрын

It was a great view!!

I moved to Portland a few months ago and completely agree with the review. I’ve experienced a handful of ‘red flag moments,’ but my discomfort mostly stems from the vibe towards Black people here. I don’t see myself staying here long but at least I can check it off the list of cities to try living in 🤷🏽‍♀️

You guys are gonna love the nature! Especially if you guys decide to go down the Oregon Coast

I think your instincts were right about being black in Portland. People are really friendly but they also kind of have blinders on when it comes to race. It’s still a cool city and I don’t regret moving here

I really enjoyed your OPB interview regarding your channel and visit to Portland. I am a native (white) Portlander who has been disillusioned in my lifetime by the gentrification of the historically black neighborhoods. Portland (and Oregon) does have a terrible history for blacks, and it seems to me that those attitudes have been hard-pressed to change, even in a city that has become known as largely liberal. I’m glad you still had some fun here and agree with others that returning for a nature visit will hopefully be even more enjoyable for you.

@TravelingWhileBlack1

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!!

New subscriber

Love this

I didn't like Portland at all. I couldn't wait to get back home lol

@TravelingWhileBlack1

2 жыл бұрын

🤣😅

Okay...I've heard about the big O and its racism bac in Tennessee but I thought it was just old folks talking. So to hear this puts some truth to what I've already been told. Heard alot about the doughnuts so that's something that I wouldn't mind trying. As usual another great episode! And keep it coming!! P.S. it's it great that as a people we can politely brush off people being offensive for no damn reason and still be positive...we're fucking awesome! Apologies for the language. Blessings

@TravelingWhileBlack1

2 жыл бұрын

😊❤️

I know that feeling you’re talking about in Portland. I’ve been going down there for years an it’s nice to visit but you just have a slightly out of place feeling when you’re a black person there. Everywhere you go you’re looking to see if there’s other black people an it’s generally rare. It’s nice for a day trip or weekend but I would never move there as a black person.

@ryanc7652

Жыл бұрын

Brown too, I get security called every time I walk into a store to go shopping. Have been asked several times to get my food to go instead of dining in and if I do dine in the people just stare at you trying to make you uncomfortable. Very racist place but they will never admit it.

This is a great video, in fact, I had never thought about the amount of black people we see around us on a daily basis, and you're right, it does look like there are not many black americans living in this area. As a born-and-raised Costa Rican, I've only had a couple of "racist moments" for the past 8 years where I would say people tried to make me feel uncomfortable, but my overall experience has been good, up to the point I call Portland home now. I'd be interested to see what you think about rural Oregon, that I think is going to be interesting to watch 😆. Thank you!

I lived in Seattle for about 10 years up until last year. Its a beautiful city with growing traffic and tons of homeless. Wasn't this way when I first got there. Also, black people only live south of the city. There is some historical context to this. The one area of the city that was once black has been gentrified as they've raised property tax and forced many black families to sell and move further South. Seattle people are polite but not really friendly. They call it the Seattle freeze. Now Portland, I've been so many times. Best part, no sales tax. Yes, Portland is weird to everyone not from there. I've always had fun there but it truly is a strange place not just for black people but for many white people from Seattle.

Seattle has better diversity (than Portland) and the city's and local efforts to at least acknowledge the native people whose land we all occupy. Portland not so much in diversity, but people here seem to acknowledge it, and slowly reacting on how to be deal with it. I think the higher education level in Seattle makes for more kinder drivers compared to less educated Portlanders who drive like they are from the East Coast.if you want a true Portland experience, don't stay in downtown Portland which is still recovering and has a lot of problems, not to mention (IMHO) white tourists who get scared at all the homeless around and scared of nonwhite tourists like me. Go east of the river and experience the real Portland, where most of the working class live, and where many of the best restaurants, eateries/food pods, bars are located.

@live2av8

2 жыл бұрын

Less educated in Portland? Do you want to cite your assertion?

@JamiDwyer

2 жыл бұрын

We don't have a lot of options for post-graduate study in Portland. A lot of folks who want a doctorate have to leave. Not an insult, just a fact. But our drivers aren't worse than Seattle. We're all gentle NW folks trying to handle aggro transplants on the road.

@live2av8

2 жыл бұрын

@@JamiDwyer That still doesn't equate to less educated people living and working in Portland (per capita).

@ThisIsStace

Жыл бұрын

I’ll be there in 3 weeks. Any suggestion on where to stay? What to do/eat?

Why do people insist in talking over music?

So Seattle is a racist city? I had a uncle who lived in Seattle back in the 70s- 80s but don't know how it was then, because I never got a chance to visit him there before he passed. 🌻

@TravelingWhileBlack1

2 жыл бұрын

No, Seattle isn’t a racist city.

Lol, Why would anyone go to Portland on purpose? A great urge to contract hep c? I prefer honest KZreadrs like RuinedLeon and “Ak nation news”

@neighborhoodthreat9672

2 жыл бұрын

What a dumb fucking comment

@XavierCarter9129

Жыл бұрын

Completely idiotic comment!! 😳😐🙄