Routed in History: Bus shelter murals celebrate African American lives in the Central District

by Al Sanders

Restrictions dictated where they could live, but it didn’t stop them from creating a community.

African Americans who came to Seattle during the last century were redlined into limited neighborhoods, which they made their own.

On Oct. 15, (2021) residents from throughout King County gathered near the Northwest African American Museum and Jimi Hendrix Park to celebrate a photographic history of African Americans in Seattle’s Central District—memories now on display throughout the heart of the historic neighborhoods.

In a collaborative project, community activists, the Black Heritage Society of Washington State, and King County Metro created 40 photo murals installed in seven bus shelters in the Central District recognizing the history and living legacy of African Americans in this community.

“Knowledge of history enables an understanding of how we got here and what we created, even when the people and places change,” said Marie Kidhe, Co-owner and Principal of Engagement for RieImagine Solutions. “If history rides on community shoulders, then it is our duty as residents of this community-and my duty as a member of it-to ensure that the narratives, accomplishments and legacy of the Black people who proudly served and cultivated the Central District are shared to enlighten and inspire the next generation.”

“At the heart of a neighborhood is the vital beat that is central to its origin and significance,” said Stephanie Johnson-Toliver, President of the Black Heritage Society of Washington State. “A healthy community is one that acknowledges the people, places, and events that helped to build it. The history of Seattle’s Central Area cannot be told, recognized, or documented without full appreciation for the Black residents whose tenacity pushed them to coexist and lay a legacy that we should honor today.” Continue reading….