Black History

Seattle's Black history is intricately embedded in the city's landscape, with 13 parks named after pioneering African American leaders who significantly influenced the city's social, political, and cultural fabric.

Dorothy Hollingsworth dedicated her life to advocating for social justice and civil rights, serving in public service roles such as Director of Head Start and Associate Director of Project Planning, and was the first African American woman elected to the Seattle School Board.

Mae Jemison, an astronaut and physician, made history as the first African American woman in NASA's astronaut training program and flew on the Endeavour's STS-47 mission, conducting experiments.

Mary Ellen Pleasant, a self-made millionaire and prominent 19th-century civil rights activist, amassed wealth through her boarding houses and restaurants, using her resources to advocate for the abolition of slavery and support the Underground Railroad.

Peggy Joan Maxie, the first Black woman elected to the Washington House of Representatives, District 37, was a trailblazing leader focused on family and community service, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to inspire.

Booker T. Washington, born into slavery, emerged as a leading advocate for African Americans' education and economic progress, while also endorsing racial subservience to whites, a nuanced stance that both motivated and polarized his peers.

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-Black unit from the Women's Army Corps, served overseas during WW2 and faced challenges such as unheated warehouses and inadequately addressed mail, ultimately contributing to civil rights and receiving bipartisan support to award the Congressional Gold Medal.

George Fleming's lifelong commitment to public service and civil rights established him as a pivotal figure in state legislation, whose enduring legacy motivates ongoing efforts toward equity, justice, and inclusivity for all.

The Hilltop is celebrating 100 years as the nation’s oldest Black collegiate newspaper. Co-founded at Howard University by Harlem Renaissance author Zora Neal Hurston, the newspaper has been the training ground for thousands of the nation’s top journalists.

In honor of Black History Month, the White House hosted an Afro-Latino Heritage event that highlighted the spirit and contributions of the Afro-Latinidad community while also paying homage to some of its foremost change-making leaders.