Powell S. Barnett was born in Brazil, Indiana in 1883, though Barnett's family migrated to Roslyn, Washington, in 1889.[1] His father, an ex-slave, was one of many black miners recruited to work in the coal mines of Washington state. As a teenager, Powell also worked in the Roslyn coal mines and played in the "colored" band. Powell S. Barnett married Katherine Conna of the pioneering John N. Conna family in 1906, and they settled in Seattle.[2]
Barnett was a community leader who worked to improve race relations, organizing the Leschi Improvement Council and serving as its first president in 1967,[3] organizing the East Madison YMCA, and acting as its chairman, and chairing the committee that revised the Seattle Urban League. Barnett, a sousaphone player, was the first black member of the once all-white Seattle Musicians Union, Local 76 and was instrumental in the merger between the black and white musicians' locals into the Musician's Association of Seattle 76-493.[4] In 1967 he was named Seattle-King County's Senior Citizen of the Year for his history of service and contributions to the local community.[1]
Barnett's account of Black and Asian race relations in Seattle in 1909 has been used in scholarship to substantiate the anti-black discrimination and racial tensions that were pervasive in Seattle at the time.[5]
Positions held
Gold Card member/NAACP
Lifetime member/Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Board Member/Volunteers of America, 1901–08
Founder-Mgr/Royal Colored Giants baseball team
Democratic Precinct committeeman, 33rd District/15 years.
Board member/Lee House for Senior Citizens
President/Seattle Urban League, 1948-1950
Air Raid Warden, 1941-1945
Chairman, Committee to establish East Madison YMCA
Board member, East Madison YMCA
Treasurer, King County USO, 1944-1961
Executive Committee, United Good Neighbors, 1942
Chairman, Committee to amalgamate Local 76 (white) and Local 493 (black) Musician's Union, 1956
Founder/President, Leschi Improvement Council
Chairman, Welcoming Committee to integrate Japanese American citizens after World War II
Jackson Street Community Council "Man of the Year" 1964
Seattle Urban league Annual Award
Founder/Pacific Northwest Baseball Umpires Association [2]
Powell Barnett Park
Powell Barnett Park is located in the Leschi neighborhood in Seattle. The 4.4 acre park that was Garfield High School's former track was, in 1969, named Powell Barnett Park. Named in honor of community activist Powell Barnett, the 4.4-acre park had begun to show its age. Community members, including Barnett's granddaughter, Maisha Barnett, built public support and raised money, obtaining grants to complete public process and design. The community's dedication attracted the attention of Starbucks, which selected the park to receive additional funding through the Starbucks Parks Fund.[6]
Quote
"I have always felt that my community is no better or worse than what I help make it, likewise, my country. I can't delegate my own responsibility. I can't assume anyone else's."[2]
References
^ abDuncan, Don (May 16, 1967). "He is Short in Size But Long in Service". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
^"Seattle Parks and Recreation: Pro Parks Levy - Powell Barnett Legacy Project Pro Parks Project Information". seattle.gov.
Further reading
Mary T. Henry, Tribute: Seattle Public Places Named for Black People. (Seattle: Statis Press, 1997), 58–59.
>. Howell, Rev. Earl. "The Works of These Negro Citizens Have Distinguished Them as Builders for Brotherhood." The Seattle Times 12 Feb. 1956: 130. America's Historical Newspapers. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.
Archives
Powell S. Barnett Papers (1967-1968). 2 tape reels, 1 sound cassette, 6 folders, and 1 note card
Central Washington University's Roslyn African American History Photographs
Central Seattle Community Council Federation Records
April 14, 2023
powell, barnett, august, 1883, march, 1971, seattle, based, musician, civil, rights, activist, african, american, community, leader, born, 1883, august, 1883brazil, indianadiedmarch, 1971, 1971, aged, occupation, african, american, community, leader, civil, ri. Powell S Barnett 2 August 1883 16 March 1971 was a Seattle based musician civil rights activist and African American community leader Powell S BarnettBorn 1883 08 02 August 2 1883Brazil IndianaDiedMarch 16 1971 1971 03 16 aged 87 Occupation s African American Community Leader Civil Rights Activist Musician Contents 1 Biography 2 Positions held 3 Powell Barnett Park 4 Quote 5 References 6 Further reading 6 1 ArchivesBiography EditPowell S Barnett was born in Brazil Indiana in 1883 though Barnett s family migrated to Roslyn Washington in 1889 1 His father an ex slave was one of many black miners recruited to work in the coal mines of Washington state As a teenager Powell also worked in the Roslyn coal mines and played in the colored band Powell S Barnett married Katherine Conna of the pioneering John N Conna family in 1906 and they settled in Seattle 2 Barnett was a community leader who worked to improve race relations organizing the Leschi Improvement Council and serving as its first president in 1967 3 organizing the East Madison YMCA and acting as its chairman and chairing the committee that revised the Seattle Urban League Barnett a sousaphone player was the first black member of the once all white Seattle Musicians Union Local 76 and was instrumental in the merger between the black and white musicians locals into the Musician s Association of Seattle 76 493 4 In 1967 he was named Seattle King County s Senior Citizen of the Year for his history of service and contributions to the local community 1 Barnett s account of Black and Asian race relations in Seattle in 1909 has been used in scholarship to substantiate the anti black discrimination and racial tensions that were pervasive in Seattle at the time 5 Positions held EditGold Card member NAACP Lifetime member Mt Zion Baptist Church Board Member Volunteers of America 1901 08 Founder Mgr Royal Colored Giants baseball team Democratic Precinct committeeman 33rd District 15 years Board member Lee House for Senior Citizens President Seattle Urban League 1948 1950 Air Raid Warden 1941 1945 Chairman Committee to establish East Madison YMCA Board member East Madison YMCA Treasurer King County USO 1944 1961 Executive Committee United Good Neighbors 1942 Chairman Committee to amalgamate Local 76 white and Local 493 black Musician s Union 1956 Founder President Leschi Improvement Council Chairman Welcoming Committee to integrate Japanese American citizens after World War II Jackson Street Community Council Man of the Year 1964 Seattle Urban league Annual Award Founder Pacific Northwest Baseball Umpires Association 2 Powell Barnett Park EditPowell Barnett Park is located in the Leschi neighborhood in Seattle The 4 4 acre park that was Garfield High School s former track was in 1969 named Powell Barnett Park Named in honor of community activist Powell Barnett the 4 4 acre park had begun to show its age Community members including Barnett s granddaughter Maisha Barnett built public support and raised money obtaining grants to complete public process and design The community s dedication attracted the attention of Starbucks which selected the park to receive additional funding through the Starbucks Parks Fund 6 Quote Edit I have always felt that my community is no better or worse than what I help make it likewise my country I can t delegate my own responsibility I can t assume anyone else s 2 References Edit a b Duncan Don May 16 1967 He is Short in Size But Long in Service The Seattle Times Retrieved 16 March 2015 a b c Leschi Powell Barnet Park leschicommunitycouncil org Seattle Neighborhoods Leschi Thumbnail History Barnett Powell S 1883 1971 Taylor Quintard Nov 1989 Black Urban Development Another View Seattle s Central District 1910 1940 Pacific Historical Review 58 4 438 doi 10 2307 3640173 JSTOR 3640173 Seattle Parks and Recreation Pro Parks Levy Powell Barnett Legacy Project Pro Parks Project Information seattle gov Further reading EditMary T Henry Tribute Seattle Public Places Named for Black People Seattle Statis Press 1997 58 59 gt Howell Rev Earl The Works of These Negro Citizens Have Distinguished Them as Builders for Brotherhood The Seattle Times 12 Feb 1956 130 America s Historical Newspapers Web 16 Mar 2015 Archives Edit Powell S Barnett Papers 1967 1968 2 tape reels 1 sound cassette 6 folders and 1 note card Central Washington University s Roslyn African American History Photographs Central Seattle Community Council Federation Records Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Powell S Barnett amp oldid 1144964335, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
