Book Title: Where We Live: Race and Housing

Book Description

Race in the United States has influenced where we live.  This project-based book explores how race played a role in land ownership and housing policy, focusing on Oregon.  In essence, the project is a way of using the Sociological Imagination to examine where we live.  The Sociological Imagination requires an understanding of the connection between macro level social structures and the lives of individuals.  In this case, we are looking at the ways that the macro level of racial discrimination in housing and land ownership historically impact where we live.

This project begins with mapping technologies.  Users first learn about the racial demographics of their census tract.  Next, they explore the Native Land digital map.  In the process, they layer onto their geography some of the history of the tribal communities.  Next, users read about racial discrimination in Oregon’s history impacting: land ownership, housing policy,  immigration, and racial demographics.   This history helps users to understand the racial demographics of their census tract.