Oregon’s 19th-century Black exclusion laws were officially repealed in 1926, but they continue to impact people today — both through the state’s racial makeup and the lived experiences of Black residents. Truth and reconciliation activist Taylor Stewart felt this firsthand. “When I would tell older African Americans that I was traveling to Coos Bay, they would always ask me two questions: ‘How many people am I going with, and am I prepared to defend myself?’” Stewart said. “That reputation was j