In 1866, six all-Black cavalry and infantry regiments were created after Congress passed the Army Organization Act. They came to be known as Buffalo Soldiers. Buffalo Soldiers: Fighting on Two Fronts, explores the often-contradictory role played by the Buffalo Soldiers throughout American history, with particular emphasis on the settling of the American West.
Free to the public and is available for viewing on PBS soon.
Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI):
Learn more about landmarks named for local Black heroes. History Café: Paying Tribute to Seattle’s Black Landmarks and their Namesakes. Landmark names reflect the values, dreams, and remembrances of a city’s residents. Join historian Mary Henry, (a retired Public School Librarian) for a discussion of her new book, "Tributes: Black People Whose Names Grace Seattle Sites". February 15, 6:30 – 8 pm
Octavia's First Afronaut: History, Resistance, and Black Futures. Learn about Octavia E. Butler's earliest efforts to (re)imagine Black women’s lives and futures at this inspiring event with Dr. Briana Whiteside. Dr. Whiteside will delve into Alana, the groundbreaking character from Butler’s novel, Survivor (1978). She will also discuss why Survivor was rescinded (at Butler’s request) from the compilation, Seed to Harvest (2007), and why the novel is an important touchstone in Butler’s remarkable career. Register. February 19, 2-3:15pm
Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI): Black and Tan Hall was one of Seattle’s first interracial establishments, hosting legendary musical acts and local bands for nearly five decades. Learn about Black and Tan Hall’s new digital The Black and Tan Collection oil paintings by artist Bonnie Hopper, who depicted the musicians who played at the club. February 19 - March 3
Seattle Center: The Armory Stage at Seattle Center is hosting “A History Worth Preserving: Buffalo Soldiers Exhibit” an educational exhibit about the hundreds of Buffalo Soldiers who were stationed at Fort Lawton. This exhibit brings the compelling stories and history of Fort Lawton (what is now Discovery Park) to the Seattle community while demonstrating why the preservation of Fort Lawton is essential to the historical narrative of Seattle and the U.S. The exhibit runs daily through February 28
Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP): MoPOP’s “Contact High: a visual history of Hip-Hop” exhibition explores four decades of photography, from the late 1970s to today, documenting a revolution not just in music, but in politics, race relations, fashion, and culture. Through more than 170 iconic images of hip-hop’s most influential artists (Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Queen Latifah, Tupac, and more) — including contact sheets that provide a rare glimpse into the creative process of a photo session — Contact High examines the evolution of hip-hop, connecting us with the experiences, identities, and places that have shaped the world’s most popular music genre. LISTEN UP: Fab5 Freddy's Playlist
Black Farmers Collective: Global Family Travels invites small groups on an educational experience in partnership with Tour Seattle’s Black Farmers Collective, a group of urban food system activists. The tour will educate participants on the intersections between urban farming, race and inclusion, and food access.
Tour the Central District Seattle's hub for Black culture and community. "The ethnic and racial makeup of the Central District has always been in flux. A predominantly Jewish and Italian neighborhood prior to World War I gave way to Japanese immigrants and Japanese Americans by the 1930s. World War II brought significant numbers of Black Americans to the Pacific Northwest, both to serve in the military and to work in war-related industries."
Black Seattleites
Come along as Seattle musician SassyBlack shares her local favorites with her friend, artist Tyrell Shaw.
Join Seattle Kraken announcer Everett “Fitz” Fitzhugh, the NHL’s first Black full-time team play-by-play announcer, as he shows his family around his favorite Seattle places.
Additional Resources
The Intentionalist: Explore Black-owned businesses by neighborhood through The Intentionalist’s guide.
Wa Na Wari: Wa Na Wari is an immersive community art project that reclaims Black cultural space and makes a statement about the importance of Black land ownership in gentrified communities.
Visit Seattle’s African American Cultural Heritage Guide: Learn about the history of African American heritage in Washington.
(krobinson@visitseattle.org)