100 Years Ago: Oregon Voters Removed Black Exclusion Clause
Oregon Black Pioneers marked the centennial of the constitutional amendment at a North Portland gathering on Nov. 2.
By Tyler Khalil ·
Oregon residents no longer live under a state constitution that explicitly barred Black people from residing in the state, a legal change enacted by voters 100 years ago this week. The 1926 amendment removed Article One, Section 35, a provision that had stood since 1859.
On Nov. 2, 2026, the Oregon Black Pioneers (OBP) held a commemoration at the North Portland Library to mark the anniversary. The group, a statewide African American historical society, cited the efforts of Black community organizers, the NAACP, and the League of Women Voters who helped secure the vote to delete the exclusionary language.
The 1859 clause made Oregon the only state admitted to the Union with a constitutional bar against Black people living, working, and owning property in the state. Mariah Rocker, the Public Programs and Exhibits Manager for OBP, noted that every iteration of Oregon’s government included some form of this exclusion until the final removal in 1926.
Zachary Stocks, the OBP Executive Director, emphasized the democratic process that created and dissolved the laws. He stated, “It was voting which created the Black exclusion laws, and it was voting which got rid of the Black exclusion laws. Everybody’s vote matters.”
Local leaders attended the event to recognize the milestone. Denyse McGriff, mayor of Oregon City, was among five mayors who signed a proclamation first issued by Mayor Lacey Beaty of Beaverton. Other participating cities included Portland, Wilsonville, Ashland, Gold Beach, and Tualatin. McGriff said the event serves to inform long-term residents about the contributions of African Americans in the state.
The afternoon program featured a historical presentation on the exclusion laws, followed by a social gathering with pizza and musical performances by Arietta Ward & Friends. The event concluded with a rendition of Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day,” which prompted the audience to stand and sing along.
MaryEtta Callier, a performer at the event, described the anniversary as a moment to plant new seeds in the present day. She observed that a century feels recent given current events, suggesting that historical lessons can be unlearned if not actively maintained.
