As part of our ongoing anti-racist work, Earshot Jazz has compiled this list for our staff, board, and community to explore. This list is by no means comprehensive. It presents a number of resources that we invite you to spend time with.
Seattle-Based Organizations
Africatown Community Land Trust
Africatown Community Land Trust is working for community ownership of land in the Central District that can support the cultural and economic thriving of people who are part of the African diaspora. The Africatown Community Land Trust is comprised of real estate professionals, business executives, entrepreneurs, and longtime community members from the Central District. Website: africatownlandtrust.org
Black Dot Seattle
Black Dot started in 2015 as a project from Hack the CD to provide a safe space for entrepreneurs, creatives, technologists, and community builders of the African diaspora to connect, build business, and community. Website: blackdotseattle.com
Black Lives Matter Seattle-King County
The local chapter of this nation-wide organization is focused on dismantling anti-Black systems and policies of oppression. BLMSKC demand that racism be declared a public health crisis in Washington state and that the city must divest at least $100 million from the police budget, particularly from militarization. Website: blacklivesseattle.org
Creative Justice
Creative Justice is an arts-based alternative to incarceration. Creative Justice builds community with youth most impacted by the school-to-prison-(to-deportation) pipeline. Participants and mentor artists work together to examine the root causes of incarceration, like systemic racism and other forms of oppression, and create art that articulates the power and potential of our communities. Website: creativejusticenw.org
Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites
Formed in 2001, this organization partners with several other local organizations such as the Duwamish Tribe, El Comité, Got Green, BAYAN PNW and others. They are an affiliate of the nation-based organization Showing Up For Racial Justice. Website: carw.org
Decriminalize Seattle
A grassroots coalition of Seattle abolitionist organizations calling for the defunding of the Seattle Police Department. Their list of demands are inspired by Movement for Black Lives and Reclaim the Block and are rooted in years of work opposing police and prisons in the Seattle region. Website: decriminalizeseattle.com
King County Equity Now Coalition
A coalition of accountable, Black-led community-based organizations fighting to achieve equity in King County. Their list of demands includes re-purposing government owned land for community use and halting development leading to gentrification, particularly in the Central District neighborhood. Website: kingcountyequitynow.com and nojimcrow.com
Lavender Rights Project: Black Trans Task Force
The Black Trans Task Force (BTTF) is a project of the Lavender Rights Project which promotes community building, research, and political action addressing the crisis of violence against Black Trans people. The BTTF provides resources for SeattleTacoma Black trans people in collaboration with community partners to broaden safety nets and increase avenues for justice that are typically available for white trans people. Website: lavenderrightsproject.org
Seattle Indivisible
A volunteer-based organization with a mission to help influence our representatives and resist racism, authoritarianism, and corruption in our government. Website: seattleindivisble.com
National Organizations
Anti-Racism Project
Anti-Racism Project seeks to educate participants about how institutionalized racism, internalized racism and white privilege feed oppression. They offer workshops and courses, and a resource list. Website: antiracismproject.org
Black Visions Collective
Minnesota-based organization dedicated to liberation for all Black lives. BVC centers healing justice and transformative justice to create conditions for long term success and transformation. Website: blackvisionsmn.org
Equal Justice Initiative
An organization committed to ending mass incarceration in the United States with many educational resources on race, slavery, segregation, and more. They have a museum in Montgomery, Alabama. Website: eji.org
From Privilege to Progress
A national movement to desegregate the public conversation about race. P2P calls on all Americans to join on the path to antiracism by learning, speaking up in their everyday lives, and amplifying the voices of people of color on social media. Website: fromprivilegetoprogress.org
Race Forward
Organization which provides research resources, online training and consulting, and produces Colorlines, a daily news site that focuses on race. Website: raceforward.org
Race to Lead
Part of the Building Movement Project, this org advances the potential for nonprofit organizations to have an impact in building movements for progressive social change. Website: racetolead.org
Reclaim the Block
A Minneapolis based organization formed in 2018 by community and city council members to move money from the police department into other areas of the city’s budget that truly promote community health and safety. Website: reclaimtheblock.org
Movement for Black Lives
An organization that seeks to mobilize people to influence national and local agendas in the direction of their shared vision for black lives. Website: m4bl.org
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Museum located in Washington DC devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. They have a resource page called Talking About Race. Website: nmaahc.si.edu
The Okra Project
The Okra Project is a collective that seeks to address the global crisis faced by Black Trans people by bringing home cooked, healthy, and culturally specific meals and resources to Black Trans People. Website: theokraproject.com
Showing Up For Racial Justice
SURJ is a national network of groups and individuals working to undermine white supremacy and to work toward racial justice. Through community organizing, mobilizing, and education, SURJ moves white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability. Website: showingupforracialjustice.org
Seattle Black–Led Arts Organizations
African-American Writers’ Alliance
The African-American Writers’ Alliance, a diverse and dynamic collective of Seattle-area writers of African descent, provides an informal and supportive forum for new and published writers. Website: aawa-seattle.com
Central District Forum for Arts and Ideas
This arts organization works out of Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, and solely presents emerging Black artists. Website: cdforum.org
Crunk Feminist Collective
The Crunk Feminist Collective aims to create a space of support and camaraderie for hip-hop generation feminists of color, queer, and straight people. Website: crunkfeministcollective.com
Key to Change
Inspiring underserved youth through world-class music instruction and supporting their development as self-aware leaders. Key to Change removes the barrier to entry for low income students and students of color with an inclusive approach that helps build trust and connection. Website: keytochangestudio.org
Kutt’N’Up Entertainment
Kutt’N’Up is a dance family that consists of youth all over the greater Seattle area. Their mission is to succeed in all aspects of life including but not limited to grades, responsibility, and accoutability. Website: nthekutt.com
Langston
Established in 2016 to lead programming within the historic Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, Langston guides generative programs and community partnerships that center Black art, artists, and audiences and honor the ongoing legacy of Seattle’s Black Central Area. Website: langstonseattle.org
Martyr Sauce
Martyr Sauce is an art gallery that found its origins in a stairwell leading up to the owner, Tariqa Waters’ apartment. Now in a full studio space, Waters is committed to showcasing underrepresented artists and undiscovered talent. Website: martyrsauce.com
Movimiento Afrolatino Seattle
Movimiento Afrolatino Seattle is an umbrella organization created by Afrolatino communities and artists that appreciate Afrolatino arts and culture. Website: movimientoafrolatino.org
Northwest Tap Connection
A race and social justice oriented studio connecting dance across communities located in the Rainier Valley neighborhood. Website: nwtapconnection.org
South Seattle Emerald
This newspaper’s mission is to amplify the authentic narratives of South Seattle, which have been underserved by other media. They employ a racial justice lens to uplift the community. Website: southseattleemerald.com
Spectrum Dance Theater
The Spectrum Dance Theater, under the guidance of choreographer Donald Byrd, aims to bring dance to a diverse audience. Part of their vision is “To have dance and the arts be considered part of the solution to the challenges facing our communities.” SDT has a page with anti-racism resources. Website: spectrumdance.org
Northwest African American Museum
NAAM’s mission is to spread knowledge, understanding, and enjoyment of the histories, arts and cultures of people of African descent for the enrichment of all. Website: naamnw.org
Wa Na Wari
Wa Na Wari means home in the Kalabari language. This organization creates space for Black ownership, possibility, and belonging through art, historic preservation, and connection. Website: wanawari.org
Black-Owned Businesses
Black Owned Everything
Directory that highlights Black-owned brands across all categories. Website: blackownedeverything.com
EatOkra
Eat Okra is an app-based directory to find local Black-owned restaurants across the United States. Website: eatokra.com
The Intentionalist
A robust online guide to small businesses with filters for Black-owned, woman-owned, LGBTQ-owned, and more. Website: intentionalist.com
We Buy Black
The largest online marketplace for Black owned Businesses. Website: webuyblack.com
Resource Lists Compiled by other Arts Organizations
Anti-Racist and Social Justice Resources—KEXP Website: kexp.org
Anti-Racist Resources— Chamber Music America Website: chamber-music.org
Black-Led Arts and Heritage Organizations in Washington State—Artist Trust Website: artisttrust.org
Racial Justice Resources— Seattle Rep. Website: seattlerep.org
A Place to Start—MOMA. Website: moma.org
Multi-Media Lists: Books, Videos, Films, Podcasts
The Anti-Racist Starter Pack: 40 TVS Shows, Documentaries, Films, TED Talks and Books to Add to Your List—Parade. Website: parade.com
An Essential Reading Guide for Fighting Racism—BuzzFeed News. Website: buzzfeednews.com
Anti-Racism Reading List for Young Readers by Age—Book Shop Santa Cruz. Website: bookshopsantacruz.com
Confronting Racism at Work: A Reading List—Harvard Business Review. Website hbr.org
List of Books, Films, and Podcasts about Racism—NPR. Website: npr.org
