High school lessons on Oregon racism, then and now

The Jefferson Exchange

Sinclair Lewis watched the rise of the Fascists and Nazis in Europe and wrote the novel It Can't Happen Here, published in 1935.

The Oregon Historical Society shows high school students that ultra-nationalism and racism took root in the Northwest in the late 20th century in a curriculum called It Did Happen Here. The curriculum first demonstrates that Oregon was founded as a white-only state, with a Black exclusion law enshrined in the first Oregon constitution. Then, it follows the story through to the present day.

We learn more about the details of the curriculum and who uses it, in a chat with Katie Pearson of OHS and Mic Crenshaw of Education WithOut Borders, a participating nonprofit. Mic had a hand in creating the original podcast series.