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African-American population has doubled Jim Craven photo The Perrys say they�ve encountered no incidences of racism since they moved to the Rogue Valley three years ago from Washington, D.C. The Perrys are among a population of African-Americans locally that has more than doubled in the last 10 years, U.S. Census figures show. From top, the Perrys are Nate, Mary, Janae, 12, Nate Jr., 10, and Moriah, 8. By Jonel Aleccia When U.S. Marine recruiter Nate Perry�s pals learned his next assignment was in Medford, they worried. What kind of welcome would a black family with three children face in overwhelmingly white Southern Oregon, a place rumored to have once harbored the headquarters for the Ku Klux Klan? "They were concerned," says Perry, 37, who grew up near Washington, D.C. But in the three years since his arrival, Perry can�t count the number of times he and his family have encountered racism � because, he says, there haven�t been any. "I�ve absolutely had zero problems, none at all," says Perry, who lives in Talent with his wife, Mary, 39, and their children: Janae, 12, Nate Jr., 10, and Moriah, 8. "It really, honestly, is not that great of a problem." He attributes a growing attitude of acceptance in part to increasing numbers of African-Americans, a theory borne out by U.S. Census data released this week. The Perry family is part of a black population in Jackson County that more than doubled over the past decade, rising to 724 individuals in 2000, up from 340 in 1990. Blacks still make up less than 1 percent of the total local population, which grew nearly 24 percent, to 181,269 in 2000. But increased numbers mean increased visibility, with positive and negative ramifications, area African-Americans say. For some people, like the Perrys, racism is nearly invisible. About the only negative experience the children have had has been mild name-calling on the playground, says Mary Perry, a child support agent in the county District Attorney�s office. Even that was quickly resolved. "It wasn�t a big deal," she says. Other blacks say they�ve experienced incidents of racism from subtle to severe, even as they agree that a larger minority population makes life more comfortable. "With the numbers of African-Americans up, it is getting a little better," said Monte Coley, 30, a Washington Elementary School assistant who moved to Southern Oregon in time for the 1990 census. "The first day I came to visit SOU (Southern Oregon University), there was an article in the school newspaper where an Aryan Nations gentleman gave his advice to minorities: Get out because there�s a strong Aryan Nation movement here." Today, Coley tells tales of black friends who say they are routinely stopped and questioned by local police as they drive or walk around town. "There are some bad apples out there and the police are looking to get them, but they�re going about it the wrong way," he says. Blacks, especially young black men, are routinely followed around retail stores, says Cecila Zapata, director of the office of Multicultural Affairs at SOU. Others tell her they�re stopped frequently by store security or police. "Our society is more prejudiced against black people than any other group in society," Zapata says. "If a black man walks on the street, he�s a black man. There�s no place to hide. They experience it more." For one longtime resident, even home hasn�t been an escape from overt racism. Robert Clayborne, 57, has lived in Rogue River since 1973. During the decades that he raised six children, the engineer says he�s been harassed. "I�ve had my house torched, I�ve been shot at, I�ve had death threats," Clayborne claims. "I�ve stayed all this time because nobody�s going to tell me where I�m going to live." Changing attitudes and actions is a continuing challenge, says Zapata, who offers monthly diversity workshops at SOU. She is cheered by news that some area blacks feel the racial climate has improved, even amid concerns over blatant harassment. "There is still some work that we need to do," she says. "It happens when people start dealing with those biases we don�t even know we have. It means going to a higher level and trying to understand what�s happening. Why do we look at people who look different from us with a sense of fear?" African-Americans who cope daily with racism say they long ago learned to expect it. "There�s always going to be small acts of racism," Coley says. "You just have to walk with your head high." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.