Northwest African American Museum

10/17/2026

What does UNBLACKABLE mean to you?

Our visitors have been filling the UNBLACKABLE chalkboard with powerful reflections on strength, identity, resilience, freedom, and more. Each response brings a new perspective—and we’d love to see yours.

Swipe through to see what our community has shared, then visit NAAM to experience UNBLACKABLE by T.R. Miles and add your own voice to the wall.

Come see the exhibition and tell us: What does UNBLACKABLE mean to you?

Learn more: https://www.naamnw.org/unblackable

10/15/2026

Did you know that on October 15, 1968, Wyomia Tyus became the first athlete, male or female, to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 100-meter dash?

After winning gold at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Tyus returned to the Olympic stage in Mexico City and successfully defended her title, setting a world record of 11.0 seconds in the 100-meter final.

Five days later, on October 20, Tyus anchored the U.S. women's 4×100-meter relay team to another gold medal and world record. She also used the 1968 Games to make a statement, competing in black shorts as a gesture of support for the Olympic Project for Human Rights.

Tyus later dedicated her relay gold medal to fellow U.S. athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos. Days earlier, after winning gold and bronze in the 200-meter race, Smith and Carlos staged a historic, peaceful protest on the medal podium, bowing their heads and raising black-gloved fists during the U.S. national anthem to call attention to racial injustice and human rights.

Tyus made history through both her athletic achievements and her willingness to stand in solidarity with other Black athletes using the Olympic stage to advocate for change.

10/15/2026

3:30PM TOMORROW JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL FILM SCREENING!

Join us at the Northwest African American Museum on Friday, October 16, for Freedom Day, featuring FREE museum admission from 10 AM–5 PM, as we commemorate the historic events of the 1968 Olympic Games and honor the courage of Tommie Smith, John Carlos, and Peter Norman in their stand for racial justice, equality, and human rights.

On October 16, 1968, Smith and Carlos raised their gloved fists on the Olympic medal podium in Mexico City, creating one of the most powerful and enduring symbols of the civil rights movement. Standing alongside them, Australian silver medalist Peter Norman demonstrated solidarity in a moment that would resonate across generations.

🎬 Film Screening | 3:30–4:30 PM

The Stand: How One Gesture Shook the World explores the courage, solidarity, and lasting impact behind one of the most iconic moments in sports and civil rights history.

Learn more at: www.naamnw.org/freedom-day/2026/october-1

10/15/2026

in 1966, Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale founded the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense in Oakland, California. The organization emerged from the Black Power movement and initially focused on confronting police brutality and advancing Black self-determination.

That same year, the Party developed its Ten-Point Program, outlining demands for freedom, employment, housing, education, justice, and greater control over the conditions affecting Black communities.

As the organization grew, its work extended beyond political protest. Black Panther chapters developed community programs including free breakfasts for children, health clinics, education initiatives, and other services designed to meet needs that members believed were being neglected.

The Party became one of the most recognizable organizations of the Black Power era, combining activism, community organizing, and a call for Black communities to have greater power in shaping their own futures.

10/15/2026

in 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was announced as the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent struggle for civil rights. At 35, he was the youngest person at the time to receive the honor.

King viewed the recognition not simply as a personal achievement, but as an acknowledgment of the broader movement for racial justice. He later accepted the award in Oslo on December 10, 1964, on behalf of those working to end segregation and discrimination through nonviolent action.

The prize came with $54,123, which King pledged toward advancing the civil rights movement.

The Nobel Peace Prize elevated the movement’s struggle for freedom and equality onto an international stage, reinforcing the global significance of the fight for civil rights in the United States.

10/13/2026

Join us at the Northwest African American Museum on Friday, October 16, for Freedom Day, featuring FREE museum admission from 10 AM–5 PM, as we commemorate the historic events of the 1968 Olympic Games and honor the courage of Tommie Smith, John Carlos, and Peter Norman in their stand for racial justice, equality, and human rights.

On October 16, 1968, Smith and Carlos raised their gloved fists on the Olympic medal podium in Mexico City, creating one of the most powerful and enduring symbols of the civil rights movement. Standing alongside them, Australian silver medalist Peter Norman demonstrated solidarity in a moment that would resonate across generations.

🎬 Film Screening | 3:30–4:30 PM

The Stand: How One Gesture Shook the World explores the courage, solidarity, and lasting impact behind one of the most iconic moments in sports and civil rights history.

Learn more at: www.naamnw.org/freedom-day/2026/october-1

10/10/2026

What an extraordinary evening!

Last night, we came TOGETHER for the Northwest African American Museum's Unity Benefit 2026, an unforgettable celebration of Black history, art, culture, and community.

From inspiring moments on stage to meaningful connections throughout the evening, Unity was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together around a shared purpose.

We were honored to celebrate our 2026 Champions of Unity, Sandra Jackson-Dumont and Michael Bennett, and extend our gratitude to emcee Deaunte Damper, musical guest Josephine Howell, and spoken word artist Chelsey Richardson for helping make the evening so memorable.

To our sponsors, donors, artists, volunteers, and everyone who joined us, thank you! Your presence, generosity, and commitment to

NAAM's mission continue to make our work possible.

While Unity 2026 may have come to a close, its impact extends far beyond one night. Together, we are preserving Black history, celebrating culture, strengthening community, and building a future filled with possibility.

This is the next chapter of NAAM. And we are building it TOGETHER.

10/09/2026

We’re looking forward to an evening celebrating Black heritage, community, leadership, and the people who help move NAAM’s mission forward.

Thank you to everyone joining us, our sponsors and volunteers, and all those who have helped bring this year’s Unity Benefit to life.

If you can’t be with us, you can still support NAAM with a gift that helps sustain our exhibitions, educational programs, community celebrations, and cultural experiences throughout the year.

Donate: https://naamnw.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/Unity2026/MakeaDonation/tabid/1594641/Default.aspx

10/07/2026

Be part of what comes next for NAAM.

Every seat, gift, and sponsorship helps make possible the exhibitions, programs, and experiences that keep Black history, art, and culture accessible for generations to come.

We look forward to welcoming you to the 2026 Unity Benefit on Friday, October 9 at 6:00 PM at Four Seasons Seattle. If you can’t be there, a donation is another meaningful way to celebrate Unity and help carry NAAM’s work forward.
ttps://www.naamnw.org/unity-benefit-2026

Donate: https://naamnw.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/Unity2026/MakeaDonation/tabid/1594641/Default.aspx