2025 State of Racial Justice: A Five Year Retrospective of Portland’s Black Lives Matter Movement

May 25, 2025 marked the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, a tragedy that sparked a nationwide movement for racial justice and police accountability. City Club hosted a conversation with contributors to BlackOut, a special Portland Mercury magazine that featured a dozen essays by Black Portlanders on the 2020 protests, how the city has (or hasn't) made progress since then, and what can be done to bring about a more just future.

The program included a panel discussion facilitated by Donovan Scribes, curator of BlackOut, and a screening of Dear Young Black Portland, a short film written by Scribes, narrated by Gary-Smith, and directed by award-winning filmmaker Devin Boss.

About the Speakers

Sharon Gary-Smith
Former president of the Portland NAACP, long-time racial and social justice freedom fighter, and women’s rights activist.

Justice Rajee
Director of Reimagine Oregon, Beaverton School Board member, and longtime organizer and activist.

Mac Smiff
Journalist, community-builder, and activist around Black culture and housing.

Donovan Scribes (Moderator)
Award-winning writer and producer, former vice president of the Portland NAACP, and the creative visionary behind BlackOut.