State-Of-Black-Oregon-2015

point—you decide to acquiesce. You’re literallydrowning.”What’s needed? “You need to be able to seeyour own reflection. You have to learn what todo in tough situations. You have to understandthat you’re still all right in the middle ofdevelopmental challenges.”Robert rejects the idea that Southern Oregontowns are substantially different from the rest ofthe state. “The whole state needs to be treatedwith respect and caution. People battle for theirway of life, and a lot of that relates to race andclass. Oregon is about being restrictive, notinclusive. I make sure I remember that and Icarry myself with that understanding.”Robert also makes sure any students of colorvisiting the Ashland Shakespeare Festival knowthat a Black man, someone who looks like them,is the manager who had the ability to get theminto the festival. They can see their adult selvesreflected in him.83