View the Future presentation by Oregon Black Pioneer director

YACHATS – The executive director of Oregon Black Pioneers will discuss the history of Oregon’s Black exclusion laws and the stories of the men and women who defied them during a presentation at the Yachats’ Commons on Sunday, June 1.

Zachary Stocks’ speech was originally scheduled April 13 but was postponed because of illness.

Stocks will explore some of the first acts of Oregon’s provisional and territorial governments that restricted the rights of Black Americans, a group which comprised less than one-percent of the population.

Where did these laws come from and what were their impacts?

Stocks has been visitor services manager of the Northwest African American Museum, director of Historical Seaport, and has worked as a public historian, museum professional and U.S. National Park Service ranger. He has also interned at Colonial Williamsburg, Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park.

Oregon Black Pioneers is Oregon’s sole historical society dedicated to safeguarding and sharing the experiences of African Americans.

The 2 p.m. presentation is sponsored by View the Future and Yachatians for Social Justice. There is a suggested donation $5. For more information contact Joanne Kittel at joannekittel@viewthefuture.org.