February’s Black History Month is a special opportunity to celebrate Black lives, achievements, and voices in the Seattle Metro region and beyond. You can honor Black communities with actions like where you shop, the organizations you support, the events you attend (virtually or in-person!), what you and your family read and watch, and more. Here are some ideas:
Support Black-Owned Businesses
- The Intentionalist is partnering with the Seattle Storm, Seattle Sounders FC, OL Reign, Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Mariners to promote and encourage the community to visit and buy from local Black-owned small businesses with their Receipt & Receive and Gift Certificate programs.
- Search for more local Black-owned businesses in the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle’s Black Business Directory and Seattle Green Book.
- Search for Black-owned businesses on a national level with the Support Black Ownedand Black Owned Business Network directories and shop for books from these 10 Black-owned bookstores in the USA (plus get their recommendations for their favorite books by Black authors!).
Attend Black History Month Events
- Celebrate Black History Month with the Northwest African American Museum with events throughout the month of February including a read-along, a film screening and discussion, a speaker event with the first Black Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Lonnie Bunch, and a Sounders game.
- Parent Map has a list of events for Seattle area families.
- The National Museum of American History also offers plenty of ways to celebrate from the comfort of your home.
Support Black-Owned Media in our Region
Learn About Black History in our Country and Region
- Visit Chamber member Northwest African American Museum’s innovative virtual and outdoor exhibitions and programming. Visit its events page.
- Learn about African American heritage in Washington.
- Use the self-guided prompts from Rachel Cargle’s Discover Our Glory worksheet to learn more about American Black History.
- Celebrate the rich, creative expression of Black artists represented in Washington’s State Art Collection with ArtsWA’s Black History Month collection.
- Pay tribute to the living legacy of Black history in our community and beyond with the Black History Today series.
- Learn more about the history of Black History Month here.
Support Black Nonprofits
Local organizations include:
- Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
- Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute
- Sundiata African American Cultural Association
- Black Heritage Society of Washington State
- Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas
- Horn of Africa Services
National organizations include:
- Black Girls Code
- Black Lives Matter
- Seattle King County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
- Trans Women of Color Collective
Celebrate Black Literature and Media
Books for adults:
- 81 New and Upcoming Books to Discover This Black History Month
- 21 Best Books by Black Authors You Should Read in Your Lifetime
- 2022 Black History Month books
- 15 inspiring books to read in honor of Black History Month
- 27 Books to Read in Honor of Black History Month
Books for kids:
- 30+ Important Black History Books for Kids in 2022
- 40 Black History Books to Read with Your Kids
- 8 Stellar Picture Books for Black History Month
- 28 great Black History Month books for kids
Movies:
- Black History Month Programming: What’s On TV And Streaming In February
- 28 Days, 28 Films for Black History Month
In 2020, the Seattle Metro Chamber pledged to become an antiracist organization by engaging our BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) members and partners to use our collective voice and influence to drive racial equity impact and change. This commitment is a natural part of our mission: to help the 2,500 employers we represent thrive in an equitable and inclusive regional economy.
Read more about our Commitment to Racial Equity here.