THE SEATTLE OPEN HOUSING CAMPAIGN, 1959-1968
On Tuesday, February 13, Reverend Samuel McKinney speaks about the struggle to overturn housing discrimination in Seattle
As part of the City's celebration of Black History Month, the Council, the Seattle Municipal Archives, and the Office of the City Clerk are pleased to welcome Reverend Samuel McKinney, Pastor Emeritus of Mount Zion Baptist Church, one of Seattle's oldest and largest African American churches. Reverend McKinney will talk about his work as a leader in the campaign to end housing discrimination in Seattle.
Up until 1968, it was legal to discriminate against people on the basis of their race when renting or selling property in Seattle. The struggle to end housing discrimination involved many organizations, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), and the Central Area Committee on Civil Rights. The task of securing legislation to prohibit discrimination in housing began in the late 1950s and turned out to be a decade-long struggle, involving sit-ins, marches, rallies, and more. Councilmember Sam Smith, the legislative body's first African American, was the chief architect of the Council's 1968 legislation banning housing discrimination.
Councilmember Richard McIver said, "It is vital that we reflect on the lessons of history so that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past. Reverend McKinney will provide an important perspective that will help shape our efforts to combat discrimination today."
Who: Reverend Samuel McKinney
What: A Talk on the Seattle Open Housing Campaign, 1959-1968
Where: Seattle City Hall, Bertha Knight Landes Room, First Floor, 600 Fourth Avenue
When: Tuesday, February 13, noon-1 p.m.
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City Council
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