Podcasts

Rhonda Lewis has been appointed to represent District 2 on the King County Council, making history as the first Black woman to serve on the Council. Her appointment signifies a pivotal moment as women now constitute the majority of the nine-member Council for the first time in King County's history.

Dr. Carl Mack and Christopher B. Bennett engaged in a dialogue on the Seattle Medium's Rhythm & News Podcast, addressing the Seattle King County NAACP's readiness to advance, following up on a prior discussion regarding the organization's future direction.

Seattle Public Library will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Douglass-Truth Branch, a cornerstone of cultural heritage in the Central District, with a community-wide celebration on December 13.

The Washington State Department of Commerce has initiated its inaugural reparations study aimed at descendants of enslaved Africans, marking a significant step in addressing historical injustices. However, the selection of Truclusion as the consulting firm to conduct the study has raised concerns among community leaders regarding the firm's qualifications, its cultural connections to Washington's Black community, and the transparency of the state's procurement process.

The Seattle-King County NAACP has resumed full operations following the national office's decision to lift a suspension on local elections. This development comes after the completion of an internal review, which identified database anomalies during the branch's 2024 elections.

As the holiday season unfolds, scammers are exploiting the rush of shopping and travel, with nearly one-third of Americans succumbing to online scams last year. In Washington state alone, consumers reported losses exceeding $302 million due to fraudulent activities.

The Seattle Medium and Bennett Media Group, in collaboration with local partners, will host a food drive this Saturday, aiming to address food insecurity and ensure that all families have access to nourishment during the holiday season.

The King County Council has approved a $20 billion biennial budget for 2026-27, marking a significant commitment to uplifting Black communities throughout the county. The budget allocates substantial resources toward housing stability, small business development, civic engagement, youth services, and reparative actions, addressing the county’s historical discriminatory practices.

The Kent Black Action Commission is spearheading a petition to rename nearly 10 miles of Benson Highway through Renton, Kent, and parts of unincorporated King County with honorary signage bearing Dr. King’s name. With support from State Representative Mia Gregerson and coordination from the Washington State Department of Transportation, this effort aims to extend Martin Luther King Jr. Way from Seattle deeper into South King County—without impacting existing addresses or road names.

The "State of Black Washington" Town Hall, organized by the Black members caucus at Highline College, convened lawmakers, policy experts, and community leaders to address the political, economic, and social challenges confronting Black Washingtonians. The event served as a call to action amid escalating threats to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.