BlackCultural Heritage

Arts & Culture | Special Events | Did You Know?

When Seattle was still a fledgling town in the mid-19th century, Black Americans were already making their mark on the region. Records indicate that Black pioneers passed through as early as 1845, with a few staying to lay down roots in the early 1850s.

One of Seattle’s earliest African American residents was William Grose, who arrived in 1861. He became a successful businessman, owning a restaurant and a hotel, and in 1882 he purchased 12 acres of land in what is now the Central District. He sold parcels to other Black families, helping to establish the neighborhood as a hub for the community, one that decades later expanded into neighboring First Hill and is still thriving today.

It wasn’t until World War II though, that many Blacks set their sights on moving to Seattle. After all, the burgeoning defense industry offered coveted, well-paying jobs. With this migration also came a boom in Seattle’s jazz scene, with venues attracting local legends like Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, and Ernestine Anderson. These jazz roots persist today at places like the legendary Black and Tan Club and long-standing Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley.

In 1968, brothers Elmer and Aaron Dixon founded the Seattle chapter of the Black Panther Party. In response to California Black Panther member Bobby Hutton’s arrest and Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, the brothers rallied black and brown members and found countless ways to help their community thrive – from providing free school lunches to kids to setting up a free medical clinic in the Central District. While the chapter officially disbanded in 1978, they were able to make a significant positive impact on the community throughout that decade.

Around the same time, African immigrants—particularly from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan—began to immigrate to Seattle, often to escape government conflict in their home countries. Many settled in Columbia City, where the Rainier Avenue thoroughfare is still lined with East African restaurants.

It’s safe to say that the Black community in Seattle has grown and thrived. They’ve maintained much of their original roots in the Central District and nearby First Hill, while also expanding and sharing their culture with other parts of the city through their food, history, festivals, and more.

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King Day courtesy NAAM

Northwest African American Museum

Learn about the profound impact that Blacks have made on the Pacific Northwest at the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM). Housed in the historic Colman School building, NAAM features a variety of engaging exhibits, from contemporary art to historical photographs, that preserve and celebrate the Black experience in the region.

MOPOP

Museum of Pop Culture

Within its avant-garde architecture, the Museum of Pop Culture—better known as MOPOP—highlights numerous African American pop culture icons, including Jimi Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, and Octavia Butler.

Wa Na Wari photo: Susan Fried

Wa Na Wari

Meaning “Our Home” in the Kalabari language of Nigeria, Wa Na Wari is a community space that showcases the Black experience through art, both visual and performative. Pop in during their public opening hours to peruse the paintings and photographs, or take part in their Walk the Block art festival each September.

Jimi Hendrix Park

Jimi Hendrix Park

Go for a stroll or settle down for a picnic at lovely Jimi Hendrix Park, a community gathering space honoring this Seattle-born artist’s life and musical legacy.

Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights Memorial Park courtesy Seattle Parks

Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights Memorial Park

This urban greenspace is home to a sculpture, fountain and reflecting pool, all built in honor of the eponymous Civil Rights activist.

courtesy Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center

Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute

Catch a live theater performance, jazz concert, or film screening at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center, an African American cultural hub named in honor of the acclaimed Harlem Renaissance poet.

courtesy Washington Hall

Washington Hall

This historic venue and public dance hall hosted artists such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Billie Holiday. Built by the Danish Brotherhood and long owned by the Sons of Haiti, Washington Hall was restored by Historic Seattle, and it again serves as an event space and a home for cultural groups including 206 Zulu, Hidmo, and Voices Rising.

Arte Noir

Arte Noir

Stop into this retail shop and gallery for all sorts of creative wares made by Black creators, including paintings, candles, lotions, and more.

Detail from Silhouettes of My People by Patrice Batiste-Brown. Courtesy of the Northwest African American Museum.

Douglass-Truth Branch of the Seattle Public Library

Named after two famous African American abolitionists and activists, the Douglass-Truth Branch Library holds a dedicated African American Collection with over 10,000 items.

courtesy Hatback Bar & Grille

Steelheads Alley

Tucked across the street from T-Mobile Park, Steelheads Alley brewery is named after the 1946 Seattle Steelheads Negro League baseball team. Check out memorabilia from the boundary-breaking team, including historic photos and jerseys.

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January
Martin Luther King Jr. Day

While multiple venues across the city put on workshops, rallies, and marches honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his fight for racial equality during the Civil Rights Movement, the largest event is the annual march and rally held at Garfield High School.

February
Black History Month Events

Like with MLK Day, Seattle comes alive with a whole host of events for Black History Month. From film festivals and dance performances to lectures, museum exhibits, markets, and food festivals.

February
The Soul of Seattle

Taste the best of the city’s African and African American food scene at The Soul of Seattle. This event brings together incredible Black chefs, winemakers, and artists, with proceeds going to nonprofits dedicated to helping local BIPOC youth.

April
Seattle Black Film Festival

This annual event showcases films from independent Black filmmakers and works about the Black experience. The festival also features panel discussions, screenplay readings, and workshops.

June
Juneteenth

The city’s largest Juneteenth event, the Juneteenth Festival at Jimi Hendrix Park, brings together Black vendors, musicians, and community leaders for a celebration that’s fun for the whole family.

June
Festival Sundiata Presents Black Arts Fest

Named in honor of a legendary African king, Festival Sundiata features African and African American cultural traditions. Spend the day listening to live R&B, soul, and Afrobeats music; admiring Black-inspired drawings and paintings; and shopping at the marketplace for locally made crafts and international imports.

August
Umoja Fest

Part of Seattle’s summer-long Seafair celebration, Umoja Fest brings the best of the Black community and the African diaspora into the spotlight. Watch drill teams and marching bands, take part in a basketball tournament, and listen to incredible Afrobeats and soul music.

October and November
Earshot Jazz Festival

For more than 30 years the Earshot Jazz Festival has shined a spotlight on local and international jazz giants. Catch concerts, participate in panel discussions, and hang out with other jazz fans at this beloved event.

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