Virtual Moving History XVIII – Black Washington: Local Government & Community Activism (Part 2)
This event took place on Jul 26, 2020
This program will be streamed LIVE on this page.
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Series -
Moving History
Discussion
** Featuring an introductory video from Elmer Dixon, co-founder of the Seattle Chapter of the Black Panthers **
About
MIPoPS is dedicating all Virtual Moving History screenings in July 2020 to highlighting the voices of Seattle’s Black community. We believe that to better understand the anger and urgency surrounding the current protests, as well as the depth and complexity of systemic racism in Seattle, it is important to examine historical context, including the evolution of local conversations regarding race.
These screenings are a preview into some of the historical resources available from local archives that document those conversations. Each program honors the contributions of Seattle’s Black community to art, activism, poetry, literature, music, theater, and government.
One of the many reasons we are passionate about magnetic media (videotape) vs. film is that its affordability and ease of use provided a democratizing opportunity for recording. The commercial availability and technological accessibility of videotape greatly diversified the content that could be created and saved by heritage, journalism, and arts communities. The Pacific Northwest’s moving image history must reflect that diversity of perspectives and stories; we must continue to prioritize BIPOC-made and -centering material, and support public access to it.
Marginalized communities are essential voices in our cultural heritage. To become better archivists and allies, we are committed to seeking and creating ways to amplify them.
Program notes:
Interviews and documents on the impacts of redlining, urban renewal projects, and the establishment of SPD's East Precinct on Black communities, featuring former Seattle City Councilmember Sam Smith, Florestine Ware, and a 1973 lecture at UW from Angela Davis.
Interview with Sam Smith (1984)
Oral history interview with former Seattle City Councilmember Sam Smith. Smith discusses how he got into politics and his work to establish the Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct (featuring video from Seattle Public Library as well as photos and audio recordings from Seattle Municipal Archives).
Records of the University of Washington Ethnic Cultural Center, 1972-2002
Angela Davis speaks to a group on the UW campus in 1973. She specifically addresses police brutality and the prison system in the first 15 minutes of the recording.
Seattle Urban League Photograph and Film Collection, 1947-1979
Coverage of the Seattle Urban League and its various projects in 1969, as well as the presentation of the first Edwin T. Pratt Award.
Florestine Ware papers, 1960-1982
Several reels of Super-8mm film shot by Florestine Ware, a Seattle area activist. The film relates to her work as a caravan leader and spokesperson for the North West Convention to the Poor People’s Campaign, 1967.
Seattle Segments: Yesler-Atlantic “T”
An informational exhibit on urban development in the 1960s and its impact on the Black community.
Anti-Ads
Two anti-ads made in the 1970s to serve as public service announcements speaking against redlining.
About [Virtual] Moving History
Sundays, 4:30–5:30pm PDT
MIPoPS is a nonprofit whose mission is to assist archives, libraries, and other organizations with the conversion of analog video recordings to digital formats according to archival best practices.
In order to adhere to social distancing best practices, MIPoPS is proud to partner with the Northwest Film Forum to bring you a weekly series of archival videotape documenting a diverse history in Seattle. Featuring a variety of material and topics, this series will curate a set of clips each Sunday to provide comic relief, historically relevant medical and public health documentation, performance recordings, and much more.
MIPoPS hopes this series will educate and entertain viewers during this time of uncertainty and isolation.
Find out more about MIPoPS at mipops.org
Watch past screenings on their YouTube Channel
Browse hundreds of videos they’ve digitized on their Internet Archive collection
Connect with MIPoPS on social media:
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