Amid a six-day state of emergency declaration caused by freezing temperatures and snow, the Board of County Commissioners and presenters remained committed to the day’s goal: proclaiming February 2025 as Black History and Black Futures Month in Multnomah County.
The presentation and subsequent proclamation — co-sponsored by Commissioners Vince Jones-Dixon and Shannon Singleton, as well as Health Department Director Rachael Banks — went on despite the fact that most County offices and operations were closed on Thursday, Feb. 13, due to inclement weather.
As part of the morning’s presentation, TK Kapurura of the Department of County Human Services explained the importance of this annual observance that celebrates the “works, inventions, discoveries and contributions” made by members of the Black community.
Born in Zimbabwe, Kapurura took special care in his remarks to honor “Black American African ancestors forced to endure the brutal experience [of slavery].” He also saluted “those who sacrificed so much for the freedom, recognition, and civil rights” that many groups beyond the Black community enjoy today.
Canada Taylor Parker, who has had a long tenure at the County, noted in her remarks how her work at the Health Department tied directly back to the concept of Black futures. Though she is now a workforce trauma support coordinator in the Department of County Management, Taylor Parker recalled the work she pioneered at Health and how that effort has had a ripple effect nationally.
“I was the first person to do my job,” Taylor Parker said. “The first person on my team who was hired as a KSA [Knowlege, Skills, and Abilities] specifically in Black suicide prevention.”
Because the topic of suicide is so taboo among the Black community, the culturally tailored support developed at the County Health Department is making a difference more broadly, she said. Before, no one was doing that type of work elsewhere in the country, said Taylor Parker. “Now there are a handful of people with job titles like that.”
The effort is slowly gaining momentum. “We are making history right now. We are changing the world.”
Ahead of board comments and to close out the presentation, Lanel Jackson of the Multnomah County Library read the proclamation, which began:
Black History did not start in the United States. For Black Americans and people from the African Diaspora, Black history begins in Africa. Millions of unknown and known stolen African men, women and children came from the place where life, civilization and knowledge began. All people from the African Diaspora come from generations of people who were farmers, healers, philosophers, scholars, ironsmiths, mathematicians, scientists, historians, leaders, healers, warriors, sailors, strategists, and creatives. Enslaved Africans were stolen and sold because of their unique skills, and this theft and kidnapping has had lasting and profound effects on the continent of Africa.
The proclamation ended with a commitment and a call to action:
Multnomah County acknowledges the historical fact that Black history is American history and that this country was built upon the unpaid labor and disenfranchisement of generations of enslaved African men, women, children and their descendants. We pledge to continue efforts to support Black communities in Multnomah County build generational wealth by eradicating the barriers of systemic and institutionalized racism, implicit bias and lack of equitable opportunities for advancement. We pledge to continue fighting against the abhorrent, cowardly and despicable specter of racism, anti-Blackness and white supremacy until there is liberty, truth and justice for all.
Jackson’s reading was followed by comments from Chair Jessica Vega Pederson and Commissioners Meghan Moyer, Julia Brim-Edwards, Shannon Singleton, and Vince Jones-Dixon.
Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon:
“I really appreciated what you mentioned, Canada — us cultivating this culture around hope and endurance and change, and really lifting up that Multnomah County is working towards and is one of the most welcoming counties. A few weeks ago the County mentioned that racism is a public health issue … I’m really looking forward to seeing specifically how we’re working towards dismantling that.”
Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards:
“Nationally, we know that diversity, equity, and inclusion is under attack … That’s why it’s imperative that we take action today to proclaim Black History and Futures Month in Multnomah County, and reaffirm our values as a community to be champions of diversity, equity, and inclusion — and we should name it. It’s also important that we understand and acknowledge our history; if we fail to understand our history, we are surely doomed to repeat it.”
Commissioner Meghan Moyer:
“I don’t feel like there are ways to express my concerns and fear about the erasing of our history that we’re seeing right now: the erasing of diversity, equity, and inclusion; the incredibly harmful implication that people of color who have rightfully earned the roles of leadership have somehow gotten there in ways that were not based on merit … [T]hat is not how Multnomah County operates. That is not the values we hold. We are so lucky to have some members of the African American community, the Black community, in top leadership roles.”
Commissioner Shannon Singleton:
“I stand here because of Black organizers, social workers, and political activists who demand justice and equity for our people. My path here was blueprinted by Black electeds, like Gladys McCoy and Loretta Smith, who took seats at the table and, in some cases, brought their own chairs, as Shirley Chisholm would say.” Note: McCoy was Chair of the Board of County Commissioners from 1987 until her death in April 1993. She previously served two four-year terms as a Commissioner, representing North and Northeast Portland. She was the first African-American to serve in these positions. Smith, a Portland City Councilor, served as a County Commissioner from 2011 to 2018. Chisholm was the first Black woman in Congress (1968) and first woman and Black person to seek nomination for president of the United States from one of the two major political parties (1972).
Chair Jessica Vega Pederson:
“I recognize that the progress made, and the rights and the privileges that we have today — especially those that we have achieved as a courtesy of the struggle for Black liberation — is tenuous, is fragile. It requires our attention and stewardship. I am committed to this work because I recognize our systems have not evolved fair enough, fast enough, far enough to counteract centuries of discrimination on the basis of race. And it is as a counterweight to this that Multnomah County leads with race as a core principle.”
*Board remarks were lightly edited for brevity and clarity
