Black History Quest, Season 3, episode 3!
Who were the people behind the Vanport Tenants’ League–and what became of their fight to get reparations for Vanport flood refugees? Join host Mariah Rocker and public historian Greta Smith Wisnewski on Tuesday, May 27, at 7:00PM as they explore this Big Question. Greta is also the Program Manager for Vanport Mosaic, a memory-activism platform dedicated to preserving the history of Vanport. This episode coincides with their 10th annual Vanport Mosaic Festival.
Inspired by a 1948 Oregon Journal headline reading “Cash for Vanport Victims Wanted,” this research explores the story behind the Vanport Tenants’ League’s fight to get compensation for Vanport flood refugees, highlighting the activists involved and their efforts to improve the living conditions of Vanport residents in the years leading up to the flood.
Black History Quest peeks behind the process as history investigators take on questions that have perplexed researchers of Oregon’s African American history. Each episode, we’ll learn about the challenges and surprises of doing historical research, and try to learn how one source can change history.
Tune in to Black History Quest streaming live on Facebook and archived on YouTube.