Activist Oral Histories|
Seattle has a unique civil rights history that challenges the way we think about race, civil rights, and the Pacific Northwest. Civil rights movements in Seattle started well before the celebrated struggles in the South in the 1950s and 1960s, and they relied not just on African American activists but also on Filipino Americans, Japanese Americans, Chinese Americans, Jews, Latinos, and Native Americans. They also depended upon the support of some elements of the region's labor movement. From the 1910s through the 1970s, labor and civil rights were linked in complicated ways, with some unions and radical organizations providing critical support to struggles for racial justice, while others stood in the way. This multi-media web site brings the vital history of Seattle's civil rights movements to life with dozens of video oral histories, hundreds of rare photographs, documents, movement histories, and personal biographies. Based at the University of Washington, the Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project is a collaboration between community groups and UW faculty and students. Here is more About the Project. Tour the Project Activist Oral Histories We have interviewed more than 70 civil rights activists. You can watch video excerpts and read short biographies. Films & Slide Shows Here are short films and powerpoint slide shows that introduce special themes of the Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project. Research Reports These in-depth historical essays explore fascinating issues, incidents, and people. Each is fully illustrated with photos and newspaper articles. Segregated Seattle Learn about the history of racial segregation in Seattle and check to see whether property in your neighborhood includes restrictive covenants. See What's In Your Deed? Seattle's Ethnic Press Read about the newspapers that have represented Seattle's communities of color. Civil Rights Organizations Here are short profiles and links to more information about more than fifty organizations that have participated in struggles for civil rights over the course of the 20th century. How Far Have We Come? Equality and inequality in Seattle today. 2006 statistics and maps on education, income, and housing. For Teachers Lesson plans, project ideas, powerpoint slide shows, and other materials for high school, college, and middle school classrooms. Special Sections We have comprehensive reports, oral histories, photo collections, and documents about these movements and organizations: |
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Special Sections: Chicano/a Movement in Washington State History Project
Seattle Black Panther Party
Filipino Cannery Unionism
Tyree Scott and the United Construction Workers Association
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For
most of its history Seattle was a segregated city, as committed to white
supremacy as any location in America. People of color were excluded from
most jobs, most neighborhoods, and many stores, restaurants, and other
commercial establishments.
The
The
Black Panther Party made a major impact on Seattle. With their trade mark
black berets and leather jackets and their commitment to armed self defense,
the Panthers became role models to some, scared others. Either way, the
organization showed Seattle that struggles for racial justice had moved
beyond persuasion and nonviolent protest. In this special section we have
video interviews with Party veterans and hundreds of photographs,
newspaper articles, documents. 
Seattle's
Filipino-American community created one of the most important examples of
civil rights unionism on the West Coast. Starting in 1933, the unionization
of workers in the Alaska canneries and the fields of western Washington,
gave Filipinos an important tool to fight for better wages and working
conditions and also for civil rights. Read about the dramatic
history of this important union and watch video oral histories with former
activists. 
Tyree Scott, an electrician turned activist,
founded the United Construction Workers Association (UCWA) in 1970. The
UCWA fought to integrate the mostly white building and construction
trades unions. Its tactics included direct action, marches,
litigation, and worker education and advocacy. Its construction site
closures brought workers to the forefront of Seattle’s civil rights
movement. Read about these events, explore UCWA newspapers and
documents, and watch video excerpts of interviews with UCWA activists.