North America

Seattle Celebrates Black History, Arts & Culture

February 16, 2024

The Seattle Opera performs “X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X” through March 9.

Seattle’s Black community is a key part of the city’s authentic culture and historic roots, and Black History Month is a great time to bring attention and support to this community, highlighting the significant contributions and narratives of those based here. Local Black culture, art, food, music, business, industry, and beyond are found throughout the destination and offer much for groups to explore.

The month of February Black history’s celebration month, but many sites and exhibits can be enjoyed throughout the year.

Top Cultural Sites in Seattle & the Pacific Northwest

At the acclaimed WOW Gallery, founder Veronica Very is the driving force behind the Dear Sista, I See You Healing Art Exhibition at Downtown Seattle’s Pacific Place Mall, within walking distance of hotels and the convention center.

Following are more rotating exhibitions and cultural happenings:

The Northwest African American Museum (NAAM), located in the historic Colman School building in the Central District, is a great place to visit year-round. This museum is grounded in a mission to “use heritage to heal,” aiming to preserve the connection of people of African descent to their home in the Pacific Northwest. 
“Like Mother, Like Daughter,” by Hank Willis Thomas, Henry Art Gallery.

Henry Art Gallery will have an exhibit of the work from talentedBlack artist Hank Willis Thomas titled LOVERULES. The exhibit features some of the conceptual artist’s most iconic and well-known artworks across a range of media, investigating diverse themes.
The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) is showcasing 100 Years of Junior League of Seattle: Explore the Northwest Art Project, featuring Black artists such as Jacob Lawrence and Barbara Earl Thomas.
The Onyx Fine Arts Collective is the oldest and largest African-descent collective of artists in the Pacific Northwest, whose mission is to educate, inspire, cultivate, and showcase the artwork of artists of African descent from Pacific Northwest communities.
Through March 9, Seattle Opera presents the West Coast Premiere of X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X by Pulitzer Prize winner Anthony Davis. This groundbreaking opera explores the life of Malcolm X through a series of biographical vignettes set to a score combining modernism, minimalism, and jazz, and is the first opera written by a Black composer to run on Seattle Opera’s main stage.

Shop Local & Eat Well

Seattle has a wide array of Black-owned places to explore, including The Station, a Black and Latinx-owned community coffee shop located in Beacon Hill. Co-owner Leona Moore-Rodriguez and her team have created a space that is committed to employing POC and LGBTQIA+ community members.

Following is a sampling of more Black-owned businesses to include on group itineraries:

Arte Noir – Nonprofit Black Arts & Culture retail shop  
Baked From the Hart – Coffee and Pie Shop
Ballard Beer Company – Bottle Shop and Tap Room
Black Arts Love – Art gallery and retail store
Black Magic Sweets – Dessert shop
Boon Boona – Coffee Products and Coffee Shop 
Communion – Award-winning ‘Seattle Soul’ Cuisine
Delridge Farmers Market – Weekly Market Hosted by Nonprofit African Community and Housing
Fat’s Chicken and Waffles – New Orleans-influenced Restaurant  
Jackson’s Catfish Corner – Southern Seafood Restaurant
Jerk Shack – Caribbean Restaurant  
Métier Brewing Company – Brewery  
Noir Lux Candle Bar – Hand-Crafted Candles 
Pinckney Cookie Café – fresh cookies made without preservatives
Simply Soulful Café – Soul Food Restaurant
Shikorina Pastries – Bakery   
Tougo Coffee – Cafe and Bakery
Where Ya At Matt – Soul Food Truck

Happenings After Black History Month

Events that uplift Black history and culture take place long past February; plan on these events later in the year:

ACT Contemporary Theatre presents STEW March 15-30, an exploration of family secrets, hope, and loss among three generations of black women.
Seattle Rep presents Fat Ham, April 12–May 12, a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”
The Seattle Black Film Festival returns April 25-28, presenting a celebration of remarkable cinematic achievements and thought-provoking storytelling.
Umoja Fest is a long-running celebration held in early August honoring African heritage.
The Festival Sundiata is an annual Black Arts festival slated for Aug. 23–25 at the Seattle Center.