Celebrating Black Heritage

At EchoX, we recognize that many people will be searching for articles and topics related to a specific community during their heritage month. But we also want to underline that our organization is built on the value of celebrating ethnic heritage and identity in all its complexity, so we honor this commitment throughout the year. Our focus on the Black community is not, and should not, be limited to February. Identity and heritage are fluid and ever-present lived experiences. They cannot be held in the container of a specific time period. After all, individuals contend with their identity every single day. Hopefully with this approach we can make sure to normalize and center heritage and identity as ever-present and important, while also recognizing that for some, a heritage month may be a starting point to a deeper exploration into one’s own community or the experience of one’s neighbors.  

That said, we also want to ensure we do have resource lists for those visitors who might come to our site specifically during a heritage month to provide a starting point for learning and knowledge. We hope this list gives you a starting place to learn more about Black heritage through music, essays, reading lists, food, history, and more! 

Collected Resources on Black Excellence, Heritage and History 

1) Black History Today – South Seattle Emerald 

This series of articles celebrates the wisdom and leadership of Black community leaders who are living and breathing change every day.  

2) Black Heritage Society of Washington State 

Check out the collections and projects of this statewide effort to document and preserve Black Heritage.  

3) His Traveling Museum is Bringing Black History to a Town Near You – YES magazine 

Khalid El-Hakim’s Black History 101 Mobile Museum includes artifacts he has collected that tell the stories of various eras in African American history.  

4) The Power of Black Imagination Shines in New Seattle Art Show – Crosscut 

Sites of Power is a virtual online multimedia project, the fifth of artist Natasha Marin’s Black Imagination series.  

5) Virtual Exhibitions at Northwest African American Museum 

While they might be closed for in-person visits during the pandemic, NAAM has a variety of virtual exhibitions to explore.   

6) Arts and Cultural Events at Wa Na Wari 

Wa Na Wari presents events year-round that elevate and celebrate Black artists and community in the Central District.  

7) The Soul of Seattle  

Created by Chef Eduardo Jordan, this is a celebration of Black owned businesses and culinary talent across Seattle.  

8) Events for kids and the whole family – Parent Map 

Family friendly events and resources curated by Parent Map.  

9) Black Voices – a Community Opportunity – Shoreline Public Schools 

Shoreline Public Schools presents a number of events and resources for parents, students and educators.  

10) African American Pioneers of Science – Nat Geo Kids 

Learn about the stories of African American scientists who contributed important discoveries to the world of science.  

11) Video Bebop Celebrates Black History Month with Pacific Northwest Music Videos 

Enjoy music videos commemorating Black Heritage in the Pacific Northwest on The Seattle Channel.  

12) The Black Embodiments Studio 

The Black Embodiments Studio is a incubator collective for artists and a public lecture series centered around “investigations of blackness in contemporary art.” 

13) Unspoken Truths Virtual History Museum 

The City of Bellevue presents a virtual museum tour in four parts, available until March 31st.  

Reading Lists 

14) Black History Month: authors of the Pacific Northwest – from Powell’s Books, Portland 

15) Black Joy in Picture Books – Seattle Public Library 

 

Have any resources you’d like us to add to this list, questions or comments? Contact us at voices@echox.org.