Seattle’s Black History comes to life in the Black Media Matters Studio
Me and Stephanie Johnson-Toliver in the Black Media Matters Studio in downtown Seattle.
By Omari Salisbury
One thing we knew for sure in designing our Black Media Matters studio in downtown Seattle was that we wanted to make a statement loud and clear that our media, our culture, our history matters and that should be evidenced in everything that we create. We are often on-air finding ourselves talking about the Central District and Black community of yesteryear those days before gentrification and displacement when Seattle’s Black community was thriving in place. When within our community we literally had everything we ever needed and not only that it was the cultural epicenter of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. It was important to us that we honored our history on a daily basis and created an opportunity to bring our past to life in the present to inspire those who are shaping our future of tomorrow..
With the guidance of Stephanie Johnson-Toliver of the Black Heritage Society of Washington State as well as the staff at the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) we set out on a path to design our iconic interview wall with epic photos from legendary photographer Al Smith who captured Black life in Seattle through his lens in the 1940s-1960s as well as images from the BHS archives some over a century old in hand we enlisted Damon Brown of Creative Lou to design a wall that would allow us to tell a thousand stories about our past and how it relates to today. Damon met and exceed our expectations.
Damon Brown of Creative Lou and Stephanie Johnson-Toliver the first time they saw the completed wall on October 23, 2022
The wall is up and the telling of a thousand stories has begun as every Thursday Stephanie Johnson-Toliver takes us down memory lane FOR Throwback Thursday with stories and photos that are on the iconic interview wall. I invite you to enjoy the first five installments of what will be countless episodes and stories to come.
EPISODE ONE - THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF AL SMITH
#TBT - Have you ever wondered about the iconic interview wall in our #BlackMediaMatters Studios? Well, Stephanie Johnson-Tolliver from the Black Heritage Society of Washington State tells the story of legendary Seattle photographer Al Smith whose photos make up much of the wall. Stephanie takes from Al Smith's early interest in photography to him becoming one of the most important documentarians of Black life and culture in Seattle of his era.
EPISODE TWO - HISTORY OF BEER PARLORS IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT
#TBT - BEER! From beer parlors of the 1940s like the watering hole on 23rd and Madison and Honeysuckle Pool Room to breweries of today like Métier Brewing Company and 23rd Ave Brewery, we take you through a short history of beer in the #CentralDistrict thanks to the Black Heritage Society of Washington State.
EPISODE THREE - SEATTLE’S BLACK SOCIAL CLUBS
#TBT - Today we take a look back at the history of social clubs in the Black community of Seattle from the Royal Esquires to the Les Dames Bridge Club which has been meeting for 75 years. This trip down memory lane is courtesy of Stephanie Johnson-Toliver and The Black Heritage Society of Washington State. #WWConverge #BlackMediaMatters
EPISODE FOUR - THE ROOTS FAMILY PICNIC: SEATTLE’S ANNUAL HOMECOMING
#TBT - Have you heard of the ROOTS Family Picnic? Now in its 50th year, the picnic is an annual homecoming for Seattle's Black families that have migrated away from the Emerald City over the years and for those who decided to stay. Stephanie Johnson-Toliver from The Black Heritage Society of Washington State tells us all about it. #BlackMediaMatters #WWConverge #CentralDistrict #BlackHistory #BlackCommunity
EPISODE FIVE - WWII ARMY SOCIAL CLUBS
#TBT - During WWII US Army bases in Seattle like Camp Jordan (current day SODO) and Fort Lawton (Discovery Park) were segregated. We take a look back at how two sisters (Marjorie Polk Sotero and Kathryn Polk Lazard) operated Army Service Clubs providing comfort, care, and dignity for Black soldiers.#TBT is a partnership between Converge Media andThe Black Heritage Society of Washington State#BlackMediaMatters
