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Award-winning filmmaker Elijah Hasan photographed and interviewed dozens of Black Portlanders of all ages. Here, he is photographing the nods of former Sen. Avel Gordly and her adult son.

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Our Black Nod film is a

  Love Letter 

to Oregon's Black community

In a state where Blacks make up just 3% percent of the population, the Black Nod can mean EVERYTHING - especially in an era that makes us feel so distant from each other. This subtle and reverent gesture is the closest thing we have to a secret handshake of ethnic solidarity.

The Black Nod is:

  • a call and response

  • a cultural symbol of belonging

  • a visual hug

The Black Nod acknowledges our visibility within white-dominated spaces. It helps us remind each other that we are seen, appreciated and valued, and also that we share similar struggles with being marginalized and ignored by others.

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CHECK OUT the full film
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