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Seattle's black pioneers played an important role in shaping the city's earliest history and character. Join us as we explore some of the major personalities and events in the history of blacks in Seattle over the past 150 years. See a timeline from 1852 to 2003.
Although they were just a tiny fraction of the population, Seattle's black pioneers played an important role in shaping the city's earliest history and character, a fact that has largely faded from the public's collective memory. | ||||
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Seattle's thriving black music scene in the first part of the 20th century was a vital part of the city's cultural life. Click for larger photo |
Early in the 20th century, Seattle had long had a reputation for racial tolerance, and in many ways there was more personal freedom for African Americans here than in other parts of the country. Even so, Seattle's vaunted tolerance eroded during the first half of the century.
>> Seattle's tolerance belied employment prejudices
>> African Americans helped shape city's cultural scene
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| After intervention by civil rights groups, Thelma Dewitty was hired in 1947 as the first black teacher in the Seattle Public Schools. Click for larger photo |
World War II made Seattle a major player in the defense industry -- one of the nation's top three cities in war contracts per capita. To impoverished Southern blacks, wartime Seattle seemed a beacon of opportunity.
>> War boom a big boost to blacks' political clout
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| During the summer of 1963, civil rights protestors in Seattle took their fight for racial equality to the streets. P-I. Click for larger photo |
When the nation's civil rights movement gathered steam, Seattle was there in the forefront, challenging job and housing discrimination and education issues. It's startling to recall that as the 1960s opened, blacks in Seattle couldn't even get jobs as grocery checkers or department store clerks.
>> Seattle made great strides during the civil rights movement
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