A SACRED RETURN

In filmmaking, “fade to black” is a visual transition where the screen gradually darkens to black—a signal that a story has come to an end. But for us, it's not the end. It’s a return.

That’s why we chose Fade to Black as the title of our anniversary celebration. For us, it symbolizes a slow but powerful shift back to Black—back to the Central District.

This neighborhood, once the heart of Seattle’s African diaspora, was all but erased by gentrification. But now, the picture is changing. The screen isn’t fading to gray—it’s filling back in with Blackness. And while our story is far from over, the next chapter is becoming clearer.

This transition didn’t happen overnight, nor did it happen by accident. It’s the result of decades of advocacy, unwavering vision, and a deep-rooted determination by Black business owners, artists, and organizers to reclaim sacred ground. It’s about building where our ancestors once carved abundance out of scarcity. It’s about choosing presence over erasure, soul over sterility.

In a city where Black people make up less than 10% of the population, we are creating and protecting spaces where Black joy, safety, connection, and culture can thrive. Where we live, pay taxes, raise families—and refuse to be invisible.

On September 20, 2025, we’ll host our 3rd Fade to Black anniversary, under the theme The Spirit of Collaboration. We’ll honor those whose support has been vital in helping us root ourselves in the Central District and serve our community with love, resilience, and purpose.

The fade is happening—but not into silence. It’s a return to something sacred. Something Black. And we’re here for every frame of it. You can find out more about our celebration here.

Sacred returns come in many forms.

Just this week, we learned of the passing of one of our generation’s most beloved and influential figures—Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Tributes and reflections on his legacy have flooded online spaces, as people honor the profound impact he made on Black lives across decades.

Many of us were first introduced to Warner as Theo Huxtable—the witty, warm-hearted only brother to three spirited sisters on The Cosby Show. His on-screen chemistry with his television father, portrayed by Bill Cosby, gave us unforgettable moments. One especially poignant scene remains etched in our memories: Theo urging his father to accept and love him not for the future he might follow, but for the person he already was.

Malcolm Jamal Warner, 1985. Credit: Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch /IPX. AP Photos

But Warner was far more than his Theo character.

A man of many talents, he was a Grammy-nominated spoken word artist and a Grammy winner for his collaboration with the Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway. He was a skilled bass player, a devoted band member, a father, a husband, and an unapologetic champion of his people.

In May 2024, he launched the podcast Not All Hood, a space dedicated to exploring the complexities and richness of Black identity in America. Alongside co-hosts Candace O. Kelley and Weusi Baraka, Warner explored topics ranging from homeschooling to the cultural influence of hip hop on education—always with grace, insight, and a deep commitment to truth-telling.

Named in honor of Malcolm X and jazz legend Ahmad Jamal, Warner would have turned 55 on August 18.

His passing is not a quiet fade but a sacred return—to be embraced by the ancestors who paved his way.

Rest well, warrior.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner arrives at the Black Music Collective on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, at The Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)