Jeff Gianola’s Journal: Ken Boddie talks about racism

Editor’s Note: KOIN 6 News anchorman Jeff Gianola will retire around Thanksgiving 2025 after more than 40 years as a Portland journalist. In this series, Jeff looks back at some of the most memorable stories he’s covered and shared.

This is a conversation between Jeff Gianola and Ken Boddie about a letter Ken received in 2020.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The letter addressed to Ken Boddie at KOIN TV was written over a printout with a picture of Ken. Scrawled across the paper in black ink are these words:

“Saw your face noon Friday news…you had a big smile saying Trump losing. Well you black ugly n—– you need to be wrapped in chains and hung by your ugly black b—- you ugly demoRAT a——.”

It’s signed with a smiley face.

Recently, I sat down with Ken to talk about that letter and the reaction he got after he made it public. I wondered what went through his mind when he first got it.

“I wasn’t surprised. It wasn’t shock, it wasn’t fear,” Ken said, “My main thought was I was sad that somebody would have that kind of hate in their heart and take the time to send a letter like that to someone in the public eye.”

The letter is so blatantly threatening and racist, it takes your breath away. But not for Ken.

“It did for a of people. It didn’t take my breath away because it didn’t surprise me. I know there are people out there and it’s not the majority of people. I know that. However there has always been a a segment of society that holds those racist views and being in a place like Oregon — where there is a majority of white people — you expect to encounter those people now and then. When it’s that blatant, yeah, it kind of makes you take a second look, But it did not surprise me.”

Ken Boddie has been with KOIN TV for 40 years. He’s been a reporter and an anchor and is currently the Political Director at KOIN 6 News. I wondered if he thinks racism right now is being accelerated by the political climate.

“I think political discourse right now allows a lot of people to feel comfortable expressing those views,” he said. “I don’t think they have been amplified any more now than in the past on how people feel. But I do think people feel more comfortable expressing those.”

He added it’s “a sad state of affairs where we are at, and I think there is a lot of polarization and a lot making people who disagree with you the enemy without making any attempt to try and have discourse. So I think it’s a sad state of affairs from where we are now.”

I asked Ken what he would say to the person who wrote that racist letter to him in 2020.

“I would try to access as much as I could through individual conversation. If the person had mental health issues, I would advise them to get help. If not, I would tell them you need to know Black people, you need to know people of all races because we are all the same. Everyone has the same aspirations. They want to have a great family life. They want to provide for their family, they want their kids to grow up in a better environment. That’s universal humanity and I think when we tie into the humanity of everyone the world will be a better place.”

Definitely, the world would be a better place.