TACOMA – Aug. 4 - The South was not the only place where Americans were denied equal rights.
Right here in Washington, as little as 35 years ago, some people could not get jobs or housing because of
their color. The national civil rights movement helped, but local leaders, supporters, and allies fought
for equal rights in their own way.
Find out how in Tacoma’s Civil Rights Struggle: African Americans Leading the Way, a new exhibit at the
Washington State History Museum that explores the trials and tribulations of the Civil Rights Movement right
here in Tacoma. The exhibition centers on the years 1960-1972, although begins with World War II when
Tacoma’s African American population grew by nearly 400% by 1945. The years following were greatly
concentrated on obtaining equal rights, and the exhibit provides guests with insight into racially
restrictive housing, local activism and events leading up to the Congressional passage of the Equal Rights
Amendment in 1972.
“What I hope for out of this [exhibit] is to open a dialogue for young kids of all colors,” said Harold
Moss, Tacoma’s first black mayor and contributor to the exhibit. “I want them to see that this isn’t ancient
history. I take joy in living through some of the bad experiences to live out Martin Luther King Jr.’s
dream of being judged by character and not color.”
Additionally, the exhibit explores federally funded programs offered to further opportunities for all
Tacomans. Urban Renewal and President Johnson’s Model Cities programs, job training and school
desegregation began to capture political attention well into the 1960s. In this section of the exhibit
guests can view neighborhood surveys and the first city application for a planning grant.
The founding of the Tacoma Urban League in 1968 encouraged members of the white business community to
work closely with the League and other agencies to create employment opportunities; a cooperative effort
that laid the groundwork for Tacoma’s relatively peaceful move toward greater civil rights. Additionally,
Federal Title IV funds supported Tacoma’s school desegregation program from 1968-72, represented in the
exhibit by the program’s concluding report. The display concludes with a look at how the equal rights
effort continues today.
Tacoma’s Civil Rights Struggle: African Americans Leading the Way will feature more than 100
artifacts including reports, photographs, articles and other artifacts, many not seen in more than half a
century. The exhibit opens August 18 and will run through December 7.
Developed by the Washington State Historical Society in partnership with the Tacoma Civil Rights Project
and generously supported by Pierce County, City of Tacoma, Comcast, Russell Investments and Weyerhaeuser
Company. For more information on this exhibit please visit
www.WashingtonHistory.org.
Companion Film Screening and Panel Discussion Sept. 7
On Sept. 7 from 3 – 5 p.m. in the Museum’s Mount Tahoma Auditorium, catch a showing of the exhibit’s
companion film Tacoma Civil Rights Project: Remembering Our Past, Reshaping Our Future. Produced by
award-winning documentary filmmaker Sidney Lee, the film features interviews with 10 participants in
Tacoma’s Civil Rights struggle, including Moss and Lee. For more information about the film, please
visit www.TacomaCivilRightsProject.org.
After the film, join Thomas Dixon, president emeritus of the Tacoma Urban League, Barbara Johns,
curator and museum consultant, and Lyle Quasim, chief of staff for the Pierce County executive, among
others, for a panel discussion. Panel members will discuss their personal efforts towards equal rights
as well as answer questions from audience participants.
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About the Washington State History Museum
The Washington State History Museum, flagship of the Washington State Historical Society, is located
at 1911 Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma, just off 1-5. The Washington State History Museum presents
exhibits, programs, and events that bring to life the stories of Washington's history. The Washington State
Historical Society has been dedicated to collecting, preserving, and vividly presenting Washington's rich
and varied history since 1891.
HOURS - Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., with extended hours and free
admission every Thursday night, 5 – 8 p.m.; Sunday NOON – 5 p.m. During the
summer, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Museum is open on Mondays from
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
ADMISSION - $25 for families (two adults and up to four children); $8 for adults; $7 for seniors, age 60
and above; $6 for students and military with valid ID; children, age 5 and below, and members are always
FREE.
CONTACT – 1-888-BE THERE,
www.WashingtonHistory.org
Media Contact:
Marketing Office
public relations coordinator
Washington State History Museum
253-798-5877
socialmedia@wshs.wa.gov