OJMCHE is displaying three photographs from the series “Who We Are”, an exhibit honoring Muslim women in our community. The Immigrant Story (theimmigrantstory.org) is a volunteer-led nonprofit organization based in Portland, Oregon, that documents and archives stories of immigrants. They began recording stories of Muslim women who wear hijabs soon after the horrific violence that took place aboard a Portland MAX train on May 26, 2017. The three stories featured in this exhibit were part of six stories documented by the team in 2017 and 2018. The first story was documented on June 29, 2017, just one month after the MAX incident, during a time of great tension and uncertainty for many Muslim women. The subsequent stories follow chronologically.
Using a narrative style that foregrounds the voices and perspectives of these women, short-form accounts are produced to document their experiences. Each story is accompanied by a photograph of the subject. The story and photo are juxtaposed so that viewers may connect more fully with the subject. The result is a series of candid expositions amplifying the underlying emotions of this community.
The Immigrant Story is proud to be a platform for all underrepresented voices in our community. Our hope is that this display, Who We Are: A Portrait Exhibit Honoring Muslim Women in Our Community, will provide an opportunity for visitors to explore the emotions of this particular community, which continues to bear the brunt of hate speech in the United States.
Sponsors for the Immigrant Story include Pro Photo Supply and Willamette Print & Blueprint Inc..