Being Black in America means we have a collective culture of shared histories from all around the world. Our fight for freedom and respect connects so many of us, from the Atlantan slave exchange, to the Haitian revolution, to the Kenyan Mau Mau rebellion.
From all corners of the world, to our country, our state and our city of Spokane, Black art is influential, beautiful, diverse and reflects many African, Caribbean and South American influences. Popular artists from Washington include Jimmi Hendrix, singer, songwriter and guitarist; Sir Mix-a-lot, rapper, songwriter and producer; and the Wailers, a reggae band formed from the remaining members of Bob Marley and the Wailers.
In their music, you hear stories of oppression, love, acceptance, struggle and culture that binds us as a community. You hear the sounds of the Black diaspora in their music, from Africa to Washington state.
In a region like ours with a smaller Black population, Black art can be harder to find. In my research, I came across an organization led by African American women started here in Spokane in 1913 to showcase Black art and talent, the Wednesday Art Club.
In 1936, they hosted the Grace Campbell Exhibit, showcasing popular Black artists like Aaron Douglas, an American painter, illustrator and visual arts educator and major figure in the Harlem Renaissance, and William Arthur Cooper, an artist and minister that sought to depict the truth of African Americans, not caricatures, publishing a memorable portrait series that became a book, “A Portrayal of Negro Life.”
The Wednesday Art Club hosted an annual Charity Ball, culture festivals, comedy shows, a “Tiny Tim” fund that gave college students scholarships, and a Negro Week in 1972, where Carl Maxey, the civil right activist and lawyer, spoke. Its impact was notable and not just for Spokane.
It unfortunately disbanded in the 1980s, reported Ehriza Chavez, of Spokane Historical.
As we make and celebrate Black History Month this February with the 2024 theme of “African Americans and the Arts,” be encouraged to find opportunities to enjoy and support local Black Art and Culture in Spokane. Let’s also find ways we can expand the visibility of Black art and Culture and create more spaces where we are seen, heard and cared for.