Pacific northwest art and culture, african american studies, performing arts. Seattle s central district was the largest enclave of african americans in the pacific northwest. Part of the central districts history of redlining and change, 16th aves considine house considered as seattle landmark in the midst of change from the black lives matter movement, seattle is also reckoning with its own history of racism and inequity when it comes to. In 1964, seattle voters soundly defeated an open housing ordinance that would have let anyone live anywhere. Aug 16, 2018 central is one of the more inexpensive spots in seattle to get a new yorkstyle slice, some caesar salad, and a glass of wine in one sitting.
As you read it, you will realize waterrelated issues will continue to be controversial. A sketch of william grose, the seattle pioneer, who bought 12 acres of land in what is now part of the central area. For 20 years, liberty bank provided essential financial services to people and businesses who were otherwise unable to obtain them. Museum without walls is pairing high school students with those intimately involved in. Richard, and now barbara, sit on our hall governance board along with creative justice and our anchor partners. Introduction welcome to the central area, the epicenter of the seattle regions realestate boom, where the old and poor is quickly giving way to the new and wealthy. More than 90 percent of seattle s black population was pushed into the central district. African americans and seattles civil rights history.
Its boundaries are roughly 12th avenue on the west, martin. Kuow this pioneer worked the underground railroad and. For the full set of services, you can call 8007690045 to book your appointment. Stories from seattles central area documents the history of the central district.
The congress of racial equality and the fight for equal opportunity, 19611968 by joan singler, jean durning, bettylou valentine, and maid adams university of washington press. Kuow old photos of black seattle delivered in boxes. What is now seattle has been inhabited since the end of the last glacial period c. The restaurant will highlight a different dish every friday for black history month. Libraries closed all library locations remain closed to limit the spread of covid19. Feb 22, 2021 if you grew up or have deeply spent time near the historic central district c. Step back in time and explore the history of seattles central district, also known as the central area, in this exploration guide for students in high school. Historically, the central district has been one of seattles most racially and ethnically diverse neighborhoods, and was once the center of seattles black community and a major hub of africanamerican businesses. Aug 29, 2019 guests at the black and tan club, a leading jazz nightclub in seattle s central district neighborhood, which operated from 1922 until 1966. The 2016 only in seattle initiative, a grantfunded project of the city of seattle, sought input from businesses, property owners, and other central district stakeholders about yet another redevelopment effort for the business district between jackson street and yesler way and surrounding areas.
The caytonrevels house in capitol hill 518 14th avenue e. Through much of the twentieth century, black seattle was synonymous with the central district a foursquaremile section near the geographic center of the city. Nov 18, 2017 al smith and his camera witnessed major transformations of seattle, the central district, and the citys african american community. In the mid1850s the coast salish peoples of what is now called the duwamish tribe and suquamish, as well as other associated groups and tribes, were living in some villages within the presentday city limits of seattle.
Seattle core timeline this timeline of major events was created for the forthcoming book, seattle in black and white. Emil and kathleen sick book series in western history and biography. Home to the oldest residential area in the city, many. This exhibit focuses on als photography from the 1940s, 50s, and 60s decades that saw the largest migration of african americans in the history of the. Explore seattles central district the seattle public. Okay, technically bill harts converted home at the crossroads of rainier and martin luther king, jr. Seattle s central district also called the central area, or cd has been a hub for black business and culture since the 1960s. The early seattle era came to a stunning halt with the great seattle fire of june 6, 1889. A common thread in many interviews is the positive experience children had in the 1940s and 1950s growing up in a relatively integrated neighborhood. Description from the first rap battles in seattles central district to the grammy stage, hip hop has shaped urban life and the music scene of the pacific northwest for more than four decades. The neighborhood spans four square miles, bound to the north by east madison street, to the west by 12th avenue, to the south by south jackson street, and to the east by martin luther king jr. In residencehistories of the central district 530 town. Way south and south washington street in the central district, will be seattle s first ever tiny cultural space, a project of seattle s office of. The oncethriving community now finds its very existence th.
Explore seattles central district the seattle public library. Jan 01, 1994 through much of the twentieth century, black seattle was synonymous with the central district a foursquaremile section near the geographic center of the city. A september 1965 article in the seattle times about the central district police beat and relations between police officers and negroes stated. Although there was little settlement in the central area duing this 36year period, the stage was being set for rapid development in the 1890s and early 1900s. Started by a glue pot, the fire burned 29 city blocks almost entirely wooden buildings. Upstairs, in a former bedroom, you can mark your experiences in the central district with pushpins on a map, or visit shelf life community story project, an oral history project founded by. Thus, the book addresses not only a particular city in the pacific northwest. Housing segregation, instituted in the early 1900s, confined the majority of seattles africanamerican community to the neighborhood known as the central district, located between downtown seattle and lake washington. Seattles central district from 1870 through the civil rights era emil and kathleen sick book series in western history and biography. Born into enslavement by white people in mississippi, horace cayton came to seattle in 1890 and started the seattle republican, the first blackowned newspaper in the city. The forging of a black community seattle s central district, from 1870 through the civil rights era book.
History at the university of washington, seattle and founder of. According to this method, the central area is bounded on the west by 15th avenue, on. I can easily walk to elliott bay books and towards downtown to. Liberty bank opened in may of 1968 at 24th and union as the first blackowned bank in the pacific northwest, founded in 1968 as a community response to redlining and disinvestment in central seattle. The vibrant central district was more than 70 percent black in the. The forging of a black community seattles central district, from 1870 through the civil rights era book. History of the central district the garfield messenger. The address of the old synagogue where my grandfather was buried is right where the langston hughes performing arts institute stands.
Grose was a businessman who built seattle s secondbiggest hotel, our house. Thus, the book addresses not only a particular city in the pacific northwest but. A guide to seattles blackowned restaurants seattle met. A history of seattles central district, 1870 through the civil rights era selected for the emil and kathleen sick lecturebook series in western history. She has lived in the central district all her life, after her parents emigrated from the philippines. In recent years the city of seattle has, for statistical purposes, used a definition of the neighborhood based on census tract boundaries specifically, tracts. The conversation will accompany historylinks walking tour of seattles central district neighborhood. The forging of a black community book the seattle public. Contact us seattle central college 1701 broadway seattle, wa 98122 206. In the early 1980s, seattles hiphop artists developed a communitybased culture of stylistic experimentation and multiethnic collaboration. You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 247.
The cloud room neighborhood guide to the central district. Rachel kessler, a central district resident, recently found out that she has family history in the neighborhood. Historic black panther newspapers find a home in the central. The arts district designation recognizes the cultural legacy and seeks to preserve its character, while stimulating a growing arts environment for black culture in the central area. The central district has lost over a dozen of its black. Major fires like this were common in washington that summer. A history of seattle s central district, 1870 through the civil rights era and other books and articles relevant to seattle s history, is a critical resource for regional and national african american history. The recently designated historic central area arts and cultural district celebrates and preserves the heritage of this community through the work of black. Health center staff can also answer any questions you may have. The central district was the historic home of african americans for over years and the largest enclave of african americans north of california. Human trash, ranging from prostitutes to habitual drunkards, both whites and negroes, are as disgusting to the negro minding his own business as they are to the man in a police uniform. Historic black panther newspapers find a home in the. His work provides a window into life during this time. Historic seattle is pleased to present the next history collective, in partnership with historylink, on thursday, february 25, 2021.
Jun 09, 2015 sena berhane holds his son samuel sena, 8 months, as he browses books at the peoples library set up in front of the douglasstruth branch of the seattle public library in the central district. The central area, commonly called the central district or cd, is a mostly residential district in seattle located east of downtown and first hill. Directed by quintard taylor, author of the forging of a black community. It destroyed nearly the entire business district, all of the railroad terminals, and all but four of the wharves. The book shed light on a lesser part of seattle history. Visit central district health center for family planning services, including std testing and abortions. History collective curates conversations and storytelling about the preservation and history of seattle neighborhoods from community members, artists, historians, business owners, and residents. The seattle public library was established as an official city department in 1890, but its roots in the city date back as far as 1868, just 17 years after the denny party settled here in 1851. With events such as the massive influx of rural african americans beginning with. A lumber company vice president borrowed its first book, a brand new copy of mark twains innocents abroad.
Today, african americans represent less than a fifth of the neighborhoods population as the. Museum without walls is pairing high school students with those intimately involved in central district history. Quintard taylor explores the evolution of this community from its first few residents in the 1870s to a population of nearly forty thousand in 1970. The forging of a black community university of washington press. Just as early settlers in the old west fought over the possession of. The predominantly residential central district, or the c.
Seattles central district from 1870 through the civil rights era. Through much of the twentieth century, black seattle was synonymous with the central district a foursquaremile residential section near the center of the city. Seattles central district from 1870 through the civil rights era paperback by. Susie cayton was the daughter of the first black american u. Seattle s central district, from 1870 through the civil rights era. How the lives of two drug kingpins trace a neighborhoods. Through much of the twentieth century, black seattle was synonymous with the central district a foursquaremile section near the geographic center of. Seattle s central district from 1870 through the civil rights era emil and kathleen sick book series in western history and biography at. Here in the long maligned central areawhich longtime residents say has always. May 28, 2016 the vibrant central district was more than 70 percent black in the 1960s and early 70s. A history of seattles central district, 1870 through the civil rights era selected for the emil and kathleen sick lecture book series. How a vr project documenting seattles music history. Quintard taylor explores the evolution of this community from its first few residents in the 1870s to a.
Sometimes known as the central district, or affectionately by african americans as the cd or the colored district, it is bounded by east madison on the north, jackson street on the south, 12th avenue on the west and martin luther king, jr. How a vr project documenting seattles music history revealed. Apr 12, 2017 researching and documenting elmers history, as well as the histories of seattle s black panther party and the central district, has gifted me the experience of working with a compelling and. Grandma jackson is one of those community matriarchs that truly serves as the invisible hand and heart, her undeniable impact on so many that goes unseen. I walk through the streets and see myself and my history reflected in churches like mt zion baptist, in al smiths seattle jazz scene. Apr 21, 2020 map of the central district by jon williams. Today, seattles historic black neighborhood is increasingly a thing of the. See more ideas about central district, districts, history.
167 1200 535 305 769 350 390 650 1130 466 431 1519 333 275 403 704 473 1475 754 1537 246 589