The Place We Make: Breaking the Legacy of Legalized Hate

by Sarah L. Sanderson, Chanté Griffin (Foreword)

A thoughtful investigation into the incredible true story of a Black man convicted and exiled under the Oregon Exclusion Law in 1851—and a contemporary White woman wrestling with racism and faith after learning she’s a descendant of two men who assisted in the exile.

“A beautiful rendering of an ugly history. A worthy read.”—Chanté Griffin, advocate, journalist, and author

Moving back to the outskirts of Portland, called the “Whitest city in America,” prompted Sarah’s curiosity about the colonization of the West, her ancestors, and the legal exile of a Black man. She examined four city leaders involved in Jacob Vanderpool’s case—Oregon City’s founder, the case judge, Jacob’s accuser, and a local pastor—and the cultural and theological fallout of their decisions. Along the way, Sarah took a hard look at her tendencies, unconscious and deliberate, to ignore the possibility of prejudice in her heart. 

Vanderpool’s case proved a fascinating lens on a far bigger story than one trial, illuminating truths to help us all come to honest terms with our past, learn to repent, and contribute to the good of the people and places around us.

Journey through this sensitive expedition into the events that remain a thorn under America’s skin and discover afresh the vast potential of the flawed but endlessly redeemable—human heart.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Race, Memoir, Social Justice

226 pages, Hardcover

First published August 15, 2023

Reviews

[Markie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book under review is a thoughtful exploration of a true story that delves into the history of racial injustice and the ongoing struggle against racism. Set in the backdrop of Portland, Oregon, known as the "Whitest city in America," the author, Sarah, embarks on a personal journey to uncover the truth about her ancestors and their involvement in the exile of a Black man, Jacob Vanderpool, under the Oregon Exclusion Law in 1851.

Sarah's investigation goes beyond just the trial itself, as she examines the roles of four influential figures connected to Vanderpool's case. By studying the actions and motivations of Oregon City's founder, the judge, the accuser, and a local pastor, she exposes the cultural and theological implications of their decisions and how they contributed to the racial prejudices of the time.

As Sarah uncovers her own familial ties to those involved in Vanderpool's exile, she confronts her own biases and wrestles with the implications of her newfound knowledge. Through her introspection and self-reflection, the author encourages readers to examine their own unconscious prejudices and confront the uncomfortable truths about racism that persist in society.

The book sheds light on a troubling chapter in American history, offering a lens through which to understand the complexities of racial injustice and its ongoing impact. It calls for honest self-assessment and acknowledges the need for repentance and collective action to address the wounds of the past and contribute to a more equitable future.

The writing style is sensitive and empathetic, navigating the subject matter with grace and understanding. The author's commitment to exploring the nuances of history and her own journey of self-discovery makes for a compelling read. By delving into the flawed yet redeemable human heart, the book highlights the potential for growth, change, and healing.

In conclusion, this book offers a profound exploration of a historical event that speaks to broader themes of racial prejudice, personal accountability, and the pursuit of justice. It serves as a timely reminder of the ongoing work required to dismantle systemic racism and create a more inclusive society.

[Katie Singer · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this book starts out promisingly, to me. I come with a very particular perspective, as a white woman whose work is in African-American history and culture, and whose life has allowed for truly diverse personal community. That said, Sanderson starts with a beautifully written introduction to all she has learned and thought. And/but I was looking forward to more of the story of Black history in Oregon, Oregon City, Vaderpool's context, etc. Instead, this book feels a bit like yet another one of us white people trying to shed the guilt of all we didn't know through the sharing of feelings. Sanderson says as much -- and I think it probably opens up discourse for some who haven't been able to access it. The book is not especially meant for non-whites, in my opinion, nor those of us well-versed in Black culture and friendship. And it's pretty Christian, so if that's not your jam it might feel a bit distancing. Well written, just for a niche audience in my opinion.

[Hallie Waugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really important book for white people—especially white Christians—to read. Sanderson leads the way so bravely and humbly in repenting, reconsidering, and reconciling the harmful past of her place (Oregon, and all of America), even as she imagines a more whole and equitable future. I loved learning from her diligence in research and her curious, relentless spirit.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, informative…should be required reading for every white American.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book filled in some Oregon history for me. Recommend to other white Oregonians who want a deeper understanding of the anti-black sentiment of the founding pioneers.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was well researched and sensitively delivered, and quite honestly just shocking—but I remember feeling that way when Sarah told me her book was about black racial injustice in Oregon.

I briefly met the author sometime before the publication of this book, perhaps a year or so, when our daughters were both considering a private Christian college in Seattle. I remember her telling me she felt she could share the topic of her WIP with me because my hair was colored (probably purple or pink, my two favored choices.) I was amused and pleased—amused because I often feel my fun hair misrepresents me, and pleased because the topic of this book did (and does) indeed interest me.

Rainbow hair aside, I think of myself as quite conservative, and at one time in my life I was a disenchanted delegate to the local republican caucus for a presidential ballot selection. Maybe that disenchantment has left more of a mark than I thought?

Blah, blah, blah, you say. Enough about me, how about the book?

First, I want to praise the author for her excellent narration. I think it is always (probably?) more economical for an author to read their own audiobook, and sometimes wonderful to get the true voice behind the written word, but often in my experience, the author is not always as strong in voice as in pen. I bring this up first because of her heartfelt acknowledgment at the end to her brother being the reason she has such skills at reading aloud.

I have struggled to place myself in many stories about racism. I grew up in an area where my school bus passed through a border patrol migrant checkpoint every day, most my ancestors are rather recent immigrants, and my oldest roots from North America descend through the daughter of a native Chippewa chief. It feels complicated to find an identity there. I don’t see myself as privileged in any way that may have come at a cost to someone else, but maybe I haven’t looked carefully enough.

Sarah may have struggled at one point, too, but in this book she pulls no punches in showing herself the beneficiary of injustice against others, and does so without seeming to paint herself as either a villain or a victim. And gently but firmly she is calling each of us white Christians to look at ourselves and ask hard questions.

Repentance is a theme that has been drumming in my head since I began to consider what ancient Christianity was like, what Christianity NOW should be like, and Sarah’s message is just that. Look in a new way at myself…and see what wicked way may be in me…and be led in the way everlasting. The way of repentance and reconciliation and forgiveness and love.

In the midst of her repentance she tells a fascinating history of Oregon City and the laws of the Oregon territory, and tells what she can of one man, Jacob Vanderpool, who was a unique victim of American racial injustice.

[Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert McLoughlin founded Oregon City. We also meet Jacob Vanderpool. The name Vanderpool is Dutch.It is thought that Jacob Vanderpool was from the West Indies. There is not much of his life story known. He is biracial. His mother was an African woman. His father was Dutch. I can fully recommend "The Place We Make because Sarah L. Sanderson writes hard facts in a simple way. She opens our curiosity up. Some times we take our birth places for granted. Never knowing who or why the state and city were founded or who lived there in the past. In other words, how much has the state changed. Sarah L. Sanderson's personal journey guides us along.

During Jacob Vanderpool's time Racial hate was alive and well. There was an Exclusion Act and a Lash Law. These rules were especially cruel for any one who was not White. He was told to leave Oregon City. No Blacks allowed. Oregon has definitely come a long way. This telling begins before the Civil War. The definite question arose whether a state was free or slave. It was an impossibly hard time to live. Oregon has gone through many changes to arrive where they are today as a free state. This is Christian Non-Fiction. So, we have hope knowing the racial storms will pass and we will see a rainbow. All of us have dreams.I hope one day to visit the Free state of Oregon. It is such a beautiful state.

[Lynne Baab · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating personal and historical journey

Sarah Sanderson makes Oregon City in 1851 come alive. She helps us see and hear the leading players in the mind-boggling trial when Jacob Vanderpool was thrown out of Oregon solely for being Black. Sarah describes her own multi-faceted personal journey as well.

You may remember that Oregon City was the end of the Oregon Trail. Jacob Vanderpool, who was Black and born in Jamaica, ran a hotel there. The Oregon Territory passed an exclusion law indicating that anyone of African descent couldn’t live there. The law was not enforced until a rival hotel keeper wanted less competition and filed a lawsuit against Vanderpool. Sarah describes the legal proceedings, as well as Vanderpool’s journey before and after the lawsuit. She also helps us understand an earlier court action against Native Americans. Sarah’s narrative is deeply grounded in a sense of place. She lives two miles from historic downtown Oregon City, and she enables us to see the physical location, near the largest waterfall in Oregon, so valuable to Native Americans and early settlers.

I am using “Sarah” for this review, instead of the more customary “Sanderson,” because Sarah has given us such profound glimpses into her personal journey with race and her own heritage. Sarah describes the ways she learned about her familial connections to two of the White players in Oregon City in 1851. She also writes about specific incidents in her life that showed her how racism is deeply embedded in her psyche. She is not asking for our absolution or our comfort. Her honest and vulnerable self-reflection provides a model for how we, her readers, can look at race and racism and dig deeper into our own emotions and background. Her description of her stumbles and discoveries shows how she pushed through her own shame and tries to keep learning and growing.

She describes her frustrating efforts to talk with people about what she is learning, again not so that we will sympathize with her or admire her (although I did both), but so we can see more examples of the complexity of discussions about race. Her subtitle describes what she wants to do in this book: “Breaking the Legacy of Legalized Hate.” Whether we see it or not, we are descendants of a system of sanctioned hate, and Sarah presents compelling illustrations of that system in one specific place in Oregon at one specific time. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we’ve been sold a bill of goods that it’s okay to hate certain groups of people. It takes work to change what we’ve learned, and Sarah invites us into her work.

She intersperses chapters about the key figures in 1951 Oregon City with chapters about her own genealogical and personal exploration. I personally don’t like reading history very much, but I liked this form of history, deeply connected with Sarah’s contemporary journey and the geography of Oregon City. Sarah is an excellent writer, as befits a high school creative writing teacher with an MFA in creative nonfiction. Her descriptions are clear and vivid, and her model of self-discovery makes this the most engaging book I’ve read about race in America today.

I was given a review copy of this book by the publisher. I thought I would like the book, but I had no idea I would like it this much.

[Eser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starting with the westward expansion, the famous Oregon Trail carried thousands of pioneers and traders across the western United States. As newly arrived investors sought their fortune, settlement over Native American lands and legalization of this settlement via Donation Land Claim Act displaced many Native American tribes and discriminated against people of color. The trend against people of color in Oregon Territory continued in the 1850s with the Oregon Black Exclusion Laws that established in 1849. The story of this work sprouts out of this law.

In the 1850s, Jacob Vanderpool arrives in Oregon from the West Indies. As all newcomers do, he aims to sprout out a new life for himself by establishing businesses. However, in 1851 a settler named Theophilus Magruder identifies Vanderpool as a mulatto individual and demands his removal from the state in accordance with the 1849 exclusion laws. In the trial of Theophilus Magruder v. Jacob Vanderpool, Vanderpool was found guilty and was removed from the Oregon Territory within the same year. As Sanderson underlines, Vanderpool’s case known as the only legal case where a defendant was found guilty in accordance with the Oregon Black Exclusion Laws.

Sanderson’s work is a mixture of historical narrative and personal drawbacks Sanderson had with the history of Oregon. Sanderson uses newspaper articles and personal correspondences to solidify her argument even further. Especially her tracking the personal correspondences between John McLoughlin, Thomas Nelson, and Ezra Fisher is an essential part of this project. However, compared to personal drawbacks, the historical aspect of this work is very short. This could be very much my personal misreading of the abstract of this work. However, I’ve hoped for more historical background in this work, which was sparingly placed across multiple chapters.

Sanderson’s personal drawbacks regarding the state she grew up in was an interesting read. She tries to solve this personal dilemma by underlining the importance of religion for her. She was constantly underlining obvious discrepancies in some personal dialogues she had with her friends and people close to her. In this perspective, I’ve found this book very similar to Glad to the Brink of Fear by James Marcus, where Marcus had certain personal drawbacks regarding his life and community around him. Although both authors handle these drawbacks in different ways, their personal connections to their studies becomes the centerpiece of their work. Because of this, I found his work much more of a memoir or a work on social justice in the United States. If you are unfamiliar with the history of the westward expansion, this work wouldn’t give you enough detail to understand the importance of it for all groups were affected by it.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sanderson tracks what happened to Jacob Vanderpool, a man who was exiled from the Oregon territory in 1851 solely because of his race.

I grew up outside Portland, Oregon. I had only a handful of non-White classmates. As we were taught the state's history, I do not recall any references to minorities and only limited acknowledgement of the societies already in place when Lewis & Clark arrived. I didn't think it was odd until I went to college in Illinois. While my college experience did not approach the national figures of racial balance, I saw that I was missing out on a large part of the world.

Sanderson digs in deeply where previously I had only scratched the surface. Looking at the descriptions, the places where inequities ruled were literally under my feet.

The book should be included in history collections, and not just for Oregon history. In the sense that many of us have benefitted from racial policies, we should look at the implications on those who have been held back. Sanderson describes the path she has taken -- a path that is a good starting place for many of us.

This book opened my eyes. I appreciate the honesty Sanderson has taken in addressing the issues.

[Chris Kaufman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book wrecked me emotionally and taught me so much about the state that I call home. Sarah L. Sanderson does a historical deep dive into Oregon's founding and exclusionary laws that prohibited people of color from living and working in the state. Specifically, she focus' on the life and history of Jacob Vanderpool, the only known man charged under the exclusionary laws. But this book is far from just an intellectual exercise. In it, Sarah examines her own racism and that of white culture in general with powerful insight and honesty. She also provides a clear path to how we as white Christians can and should move forward in healing the wounds we and our ancestors have caused.

I want to recommend this book to my Hub City family for two primary reasons. First, this details the history of the place we live and as Sarah makes the case for in this work, there is a great importance in knowing the history of the place we call home. Second, I also think that it can help us better understand the injustices that are still happening here in rural Oregon and how we can and should address them.

[Alyssa Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it comes to the topic of racism, my ear is bent toward the voices of the Black community - a sentiment the author would agree with. Even so, it is helpful to have an example of what it can look like for a white person to unravel the racism within their city, their family, and even within themselves. In this book Sanderson gives all of us an imagination for what that could look like as she humbly untangles and illuminates the disturbing truths within her own family's story through years of research and deep inner work.

History books are a tough sell for me, but Sanderson connects history so well with her own present-day life and discoveries that this doesn't feel like a history book at all. Instead, this is an easy narrative, deeply accessible and convicting, as well as disturbing and unsettling.

I'd love to see all my fellow white friends read this, especially those of us within Christian circles. Even more so for those of us who live in the Portland (Oregon) area.

Great book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

#ThePlaceWeMake by #SarahLSanderson
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Disclaimer: I have had the pleasure of meeting Sanderson IRL a few times through my professional work. She is lovely.
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A beautifully structured memoir woven into an American history story- this fast read explores a White woman coming to terms with our collective past, and her families' contribution to the evils of systemized racism. Telling the story of her academic obsession of James Vanderpool, the only person to be tried, convicted and exiled for being Black in America (the territories back then)- Sanderson shares the raw realitiy of motherhood, faith, and facing her own racial experience. Sanderson narrates the audiobook, which was a brilliant choice for this book. This book should be on syllabi for years to come- right next to Austin Channing Brown's work.

[Tim Cowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This read came totally by surprise to me since I met the author at a gathering. Not only was this an interesting local historical piece (centered around Oregon City), but it raises so many questions that White Christians especially should be thinking about as it relates to race, both historically and a present day response.

Like many American evangelicals in 2020, we picked up quite a few new books that opened our world to new perspectives. Yet there is a place, a need, for White authors to think through these hard issues and raise these questions to the right audiences. Sarah is a fresh, brave voice who speaks with great humility and a posture of an ongoing desire for understanding. Taken into account with Tisby, McCaulley, Soong-Chan Rah and others, it is an important contribution to the conversation. I am already looking forward to her future works.

[ardyjormkiv · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an important book. It's not only the history of exclusion laws, told in a deeply personal way, it's a call to repentance for all White American Christians without getting too preachy.

I love the parable-like style Sanderson so eloquently writes in that drops yourself in the story right next to her. It feels almost like a detective story as I rejoiced everytime she discovered something new about Jacob Vanderpool along the way and put pieces together. Easy to read but causes deep, personal reflection.

Sanderson writes, "The opposite of greed is prying our clenched fingers all the way open and recognizing that what sits in our palms does not belong to us at all. It never did." I will be thinking about this story for a long time as I pry my own hands open.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I couldn't put down and when I finished I immediately wanted to go back and read it again. As a fellow descendant of Oregon pioneers, I am grateful to Sarah L. Sanderson for shining a light on the ugly history of exclusion from the time when it was just a territory. She makes a valid case for the reasons that Oregon is still not welcoming to African Americans. By digging deep into the origins of her own ancestors, many of whom she discovered to be slave holders, she made the issue of racism very personal. And best of all, she questions how many of Oregon's earliest citizens were racist purely through their choice to not speak up when they could have made a difference. A lesson we still stand in need of today.

[Donna DeGracia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I, as a white person, have read on race in a long time. So many are written to highlight the evils of history and white supremacy without providing any direction for making a difference, making changes, or how we white people can address racism in ourselves and others. The author writes with humility combining historical facts with personal experiences and observations as well as advice from what she has read and from people she has talked with and asked about the questions she has. She uses the lens of faith, not to promote any particular religion, but to show the importance of forgiveness including self forgiveness.

[Michelle VanLoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Psychologist Carl Rogers said, "What is most personal is most universal." Sarah Sanderson has written a very personal exploration of how her family's story intersects with our country's excruciating history of racism. She invites readers into her discovery, her discomfort, and her growth in a riveting account that was sparked by her curiosity about the only person who was ever exiled from a U.S. Territory simply for the crime of being Black. Sanderson's deeply personal account is universal in nature – and a compelling read, to boot.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Sarah Sanderson announced she was writing this book, I knew I was destined to love it. As a fellow child of Oregon, I value her personal deep dive into family heritage, Pacific Northwest history, and her reckoning with the legacies of racism deep in our state’s roots.

My husband’s reading the hard copy, and I loved the audiobook and hearing Sarah’s words in her own voice.

We heal by learning to understand our stories. I wish Americans in every state had honest writers willing to research and reweave the tales that make us who we are and how we can be.

[Erick Mertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up as the Oregon City, "Everybody Reads" book for 2024. When it comes to issue of race and local history, I'm curious, so the book was a natural fit for me. I'm aware of some of the issues that Sanderson delves into, but after reading this, I feel connected to the idea of the scars racicsm has left on our collective psyche. I have certainly given more thought, albeit in a short amount of time, to my role, how I have benefitted and my complicity. Well written and well-researched.

[Melanie Springer Mock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an important book, especially for someone from Oregon, like I am. So much history about my state--and its exclusion laws--that I knew very little about. I will look at a lot of places differently now, as Sanderson has helped open my eyes. This book is so richly researched and well-written, and challenges (especially white) readers to truly see our complicity in systems of racism. Highly recommend.

[Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, Sarah shares her own personal vulnerable stories- stories of shame, confusion, and struggles she had coming to terms with her own racism. She gives a voice for Jacob Vanderpool- a voice that has yet to be shared, heard, or acknowledged. I could see such raw, genuine emotion, and passion behind every word in this book. I hold immense admiration for Sarah, for sharing her truth, and giving her whole trust in Jesus through this book.

[Prasanta Verma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sanderson explores the history of Jacob Vanderpool, a black man who was expelled from Oregon, and the role her ancestors played in that incident. The author shares from a place of vulnerability and transparency about her own role in racism and a desire to be involved in change. The book is well-written, lovely prose and an engaging piece of history.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the title as well as the book. We are responsible for making place for all others… and ending the legacy of hate in this world. Amid much research on the subject, the author asks herself how she is doing at making place for others. A great book, interesting read and a topic everybody on this whole planet needs to consider!

[Chad Blanchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The text is really strong and super interesting; that is reflected in the 4 stars.

The audio narration, performed by the author, is one of the worst I’ve ever heard, however. Her voice quivers with EVERY reference to racism, there are pregnant pauses throughout… it’s almost as if she doesn’t trust her own writing to convey any of her feelings.

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the subject matter and could feel the author's passion for learning, growth and storytelling. However, the book is disjointed. I believe she is trying to tell too many stories. I would have loved a story that focused entirely on the Exclusion Act and the trial.

[Marti Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oregon City, about 25 miles away from my house, is the official end of the Oregon Trail and the first incorporated city west of the Rocky Mountains. There, in 1851, a mixed-race man from the West Indies was prosecuted by a business rival, convicted, and exiled from the state for the crime of being Black—under the state’s exclusionary law not repealed until 1926. Learn more about this side of Oregon (and American) history in this excellent book.

[Emily Morse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this with an open heart. I feel honored to have taught the children of this author and to live in her community. All Oregonians especially should read this. I listened to her audiobook and loved hearing the passion in Sarah’s voice.

[Cara Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Endorsement to come)

[Brooke Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so good and so necessary, especially for my fellow multigenerational white Oregonians. READ IT!