CONTEXT + CULTURE

Benjamin F. McAdoo, Jr., Washington State's first registered Black architect has had his legacy honored with a historic designation of the Queen Anne pool he designed, constructed in Seattle in 1977. The building sits on 13,300 square feet at West Crockett and West Howe Streets, atop Queen Anne Hill, and has functioned as a public swimming pool for the past 4+ decades. There is some irony in this designation given that McAdoo's design philosophy leaned heavily toward the conc

By Guest Writer Isha Hassan   Black art shapes community for younger generations by connecting them to relatable common ground.   To further explore this concept, I started my research into Black artists with Kansan-born painter, Aaron Douglas. His murals in New York led me to the Black Panther movement and the Harlem Renaissance. In 1934 , Aaron Douglas created an epic four-panel mural series, Aspects of Negro Life , for the New York Public Library's 135th Street branch, now

Béné Bicaba joined us as a guest writer last month to examine the complexities of Blaxit and after reading the piece, we were curious to learn more about her. She currently leads the company, Empathy Travels , whose mission is to empower individuals, groups, and businesses to experience transformative journeys through the power of empathy. Béne aspires to foster a more interconnected and compassionate world by sharing the profound connections she's uncovered on her travels.

In 1990, Carl Mack had a vision to create a Black Heritage Day calendar. For those of us familiar with Carl Mack, we know that he has had many visions and brought them to fruition. Fast forward to 2024, and Mack has brought to life the latest iteration of the Black Heritage Day calendar features 366 days of extraordinary Black women!   Carl Mack is well known to those in the Pacific Northwest for his vocal and bold activism. As the outspoken President of the Seattle Chapter o

By Guest Writer, Béné Bicaba A familiar melody plays on the radio, "There's no place like home," it hums. But what does "home" truly mean? As a Burkinabè immigrant living in Seattle, Washington, this question resonates deeply within me. While I hold a deep connection to Burkina Faso, the land of my birth, the United States, with all its complexities, has become a home in its own right. For many Black Americans, the lingering effects of systemic oppression have ignited the "Bl

How will history reflect that damage that “anti-woke” theorists are doing with the prohibition of teaching true history? The erasure of the experiences and contributions of African Americans has served to severely slant the way we see and understand one another, and further censures will certainly continue to diminish this understanding. Only time will tell, but what is being done to counter lapses that continue to render Americans ignorant of their own history, is being addr

Reclamation of space is a growing theme around the world. In Togo, Palais de Lomé , once a symbol of colonial infringement by the Germans, British, and French, has been reclaimed and is now the country’s first major art and culture park. What was once a disdainful reminder of the invasion of European nations to claim what was not theirs, now serves the creative expressions of the people of the land. Established in 1905, Palais de Lomé has shed its history of colonization and

Ahhh, the sweet smell of diversity. For those of us who have worked in the field of arts and culture over the past several decades, the proclamations for achieving diversity have been many. In the last few years, equity has become the clarion call. But over time, what we have also heard is the inability of many white-led organizations to “find the right people.” I put it in quotes because that’s how I’ve heard it.   There is certainly truth in the cry of difficulty for identi

By Gregory Maqoma Dance, for me, has been a journey of unconventional rhythms, a symphony of movements that transcends not only the physical realm but also the cultural and societal norms that sought to confine it. As a Black South African, raised in the vibrant township of Soweto, my life's dance began as a silent protest against expectations rooted in a middle-class family with Christian values, where education was considered the sacred bridge to a promised land, a metaphor

In the world of African contemporary dance, Germaine Acogny is The Mother. Period! Born in 1944 in Benin, the Senegalese dancer and choreographer is internationally acclaimed for originating the Germaine Acogny technique which is taught at L’Ecole Des Sables , the international center for traditional and contemporary African dances in Toubab Dialaw, Senegal. Founded in 1998 by Acogny and husband Helmut Vogt, Germaine remains among the staff of teachers.  About an hour's drive

As a former dancer and the current President + CEO of ArtsFund, Michael Greer is an integral part of the arts community. Since 1969, ArtsFund  has supported the nonprofit arts sector through grants and other organizational assistance, distributing more than $100 million in grants to more than 650 large and small arts groups that span a variety of disciplines throughout King and Pierce counties. In this role, Michael is naturally poised to understand what arts organizations a

According to Culture Typ e , a resource for visual art from a Black perspective exploring the intersection of art, history, and culture, the second half of 2023 saw Black arts leaders taking on dozens of new appointments.   Communications leaders, curators, executive directors, CEO’s, programmers, and more, spanning the globe including from Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, New York, London, and Nigeria; arts leaders of African descent are taking up rightful leadership positions and s

Anyone remember the lavish Ebony Fashion Fair shows that used to tour the country? In Seattle, it was a highly anticipated annual event presented by the National Council of Negro Women, Seattle Chapter. To get a glimpse of the cadre of Black models strutting the runway, particularly the male twin models Rod and Ron Fuller, and a look at the work of Black designers like Patrick Kelly, Willi Smith, and Stephen Burrows, was to always be delighted and excited and left wanting mor

Alicia Keys is all about creating new ways to tell her story about the city she loves - New York, New York! Never shying away from putting music to her Big Apple experiences, Keys is about to open a new Broadway musical, HELL'S KITCHEN . While she's gotten help from Broadway veterans including choreographer Camille A. Brown and Tony-nominated director Michael Greif, you can bet that every note and lyric was written by Ms. Keys. Put this on your Broadway must-see list for sur

The newly reimagined take on THE COLOR PURPLE is all anyone is talking about right now. There is probably a whole generation of people out in the world who think Oprah Winfrey originated the film, which is based on the groundbreaking novel by Alice Walker, whose name is rarely uttered in connection to the film. Another person not widely mentioned is the director of this new take on the classic. It's awards season and everyone will be looking to see which of the star-studded c

King Street Station in Seattle was all abuzz on Saturday, November 11th. It was Veteran’s Day, and the trains were running, but the buzz was happening on the main and upper floor of the elegant 1906 structure whose bell tower was fashioned after the San Marco tower of Venice, Italy. Hundreds gathered on the chilly fall day to celebrate the opening of Station Space, an interdisciplinary hub for some of the city’s most vibrant arts and cultural organizations. It was a year ago

We’ve spent some time focusing on West Africa lately and encouraging plans for a Sankofa return. Sankofa is a word from the Twi language originating from the Akan tribe of Ghana. Sankofa translates into “go back and get it,” most often associated with a symbol of a bird flying forward but looking back. Some understand Sankofa as the necessity to reclaim your roots in order to fly freely forward. We also refer to Sankofa as the need to know where you are from to inform where y

When Dennis Robinson, Jr. , was announced as Seattle Opera’s new Director of Programs and Partnerships in June 2022, Seattle Opera's statement noted, "Dennis’ impressive record of bringing opera to new communities gives him impeccable instincts for and insight into community engagement.” That was an understatement! Robinson has become a bit of a quiet giant in Seattle’s art world, making friends and creating new partnerships with ease and respect. Not one to shy away from act

In the 90s, it was popular to engage in TQM staff training. Total Quality Management was supposed to teach people how to be more effective in their leadership positions. I don’t remember what, if anything, I actually learned about leadership but I will never forget the exercise that led me to write my goals in increments of 1, 3, 5, and 10 years. I still have the piece of paper where I wrote, “Go to Africa.” My investigation into the continent of my origin began in earnest i

It’s difficult to think of Black arts leadership and not have Marc Bamuthi Joseph be a central part of the conversation. For years, Bamuthi, who is just barely into his 5th decade, has accomplished more than one would imagine possible for a single person. At a young age, Bamuthi, a native New Yorker would traverse from his home in Queens, NY through the vast artistic vestiges of Manhattan. He describes this as becoming aware of the difference between availability to opportun