Seattle's Child

Your guide to a kid-friendly city

Black owned businesses structural racism

Student Alexis Mburu, center, is scheduled to speak at the rally. Here she is pictured with Kaz Hill and Miles Hagopian in spring 2021. (Photo by Joshua Huston)

Support these local Black-owned businesses and nonprofits and help make change

Join the fight for social justice by supporting these organizations.

Local Black-owned businesses and nonprofits: If you would like to get involved and show financial support to the Black community, here is a list of local organizations that you may want to consider, created with the help of Seattle’s Northwest African American Museum

We hope to continue to add to and share this resource with our readers. Please email us with any additional recommendations for Black-owned businesses. 

 

Museums & nonprofits 

Northwest African America Museum. Spread knowledge, understanding, and enjoyment of the histories, arts and cultures of people of African descent for the enrichment of all. 

Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle. The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (ULMS) empowers African Americans, as well as other diverse underserved communities, to thrive by securing educational and economic opportunities.

Seattle Urban League Young Professionals. The mission of SULYP is to support the National Urban League’s movement through volunteerism, philanthropy, and membership development. We accomplish this by supporting our local affiliate, The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, providing a forum for the identification, development, and connection of young, black professionals.

The Black Heritage Society of Washington State. This non-profit organization is dedicated to the acquisition, preservation, and exhibition of materials relating to the history and culture of African Americans in the State of Washington.

Central District Forum For Arts And Ideas. A local, nonprofit organization solely dedicated to presenting emerging Black arts, artists, and ideas in the Seattle area.

Horn of Africa Services. Horn of Africa Services is a nonprofit that serves the East African immigrant and refugee community in Seattle including social services, educational assistance, youth programs, and economic empowerment. 

Jack and Jill of America Seattle/Tacoma. An organization of mothers with children ages 2-19, dedicated to nurturing future African-American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving and civic duty.

Black Lives Matter Seattle Chapter. A nonprofit organization which primarily focuses on advocacy and direct action.

Black Lives Matter at School: A nonprofit that focuses on social justice in schools.

African Youth Coalition. This coalition gathers African youth from various Seattle colleges and universities and provides a holistic approach to solving some of our society’s biggest challenges.

Mother Africa. Donate to help African refugee and immigrant women & their families reach their fullest potential.

GirlTrek Seattle. In the footsteps of a civil rights legacy, GirlTrek is a national health movement that activates thousands of Black women to be change makers in their lives and communities — through walking.

Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute. LANGSTON is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization, 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. 

iUrban Teen Seattle. iUrban Teen is a STEM+Arts education program that brings together underrepresented teens and young adults for career exploration and mentoring.

The BLM Seattle Freedom Fund. For many, there is an urgent need to be in the streets. Cash bail is an inhumane system built to unfairly limit the freedom of those without financial/class privilege. The funds collected through this fund will go to the immediate release of people protesting the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Manuel Ellis (May 2020). Any remaining funds will continue to be used for future bailout efforts as an ongoing community bail fund project.

 

Restaurants

Try this sweet shop and bakery in Kent, open Tuesday through Saturday for takeout during the stay at home order. 

Check out Seattle Met’s list of local Black-owned restaurants.

 

Misc businesses (share your recommendations by emailing us!) 

Gear U Up Driving School

The Intentionalist’s Minority-Owned Businesses. Use this search engine to find local Black-owned businesses and put your money where it matters.

 

Other resources

White Accomplices.org. Learn about opportunities for white people in the fight for racial justice. 

A Detailed List of Anti-Racism Resources. Book, movie, and other media recommendations to help us learn more about social justice, including recommendations for kids and teens. 

 

Follow Photographer Joshua Trujillo on Instagram.

This story was first published on June 4, 2020.

About the Author

Leah Winters

Leah Winters is the Calendar Editor for Seattle’s Child, and a former K-8 teacher with a Masters in Art Education from Boston University. She is also the mother to three young boys, ages 8, 5, and 1.