Northwest African-American Museum Highlights Local Changemakers in Recent Exhibit
Marcus Harden, curator of the "History Lives Here" Museum exhibit at the Northwest African-American Museum, is all about celebrating local heroes. For the past eight years, he's been writing a blog every Black History Month, shining a light on people he's met and those doing amazing things in the community. Harden shared his excitement, saying, "I’m to celebrate a dream come true of just giving folks their flowers in real time."
The inspiration for the "Black History Today" movement and subsequent exhibit came from a deeply personal place. Harden, a Seattle native, was tired of us chasing heroes that weren’t in his community. He felt a strong desire to celebrate the incredible people right in front of them. He also shared a poignant reason for his mission: “For seven years I worked in alternative education and buried 23 of my students. And I've come to hate funerals. I've come to love giving people their flowers while they're here." This powerful sentiment drives his dedication to uplifting those who often go unseen.
One honoree Monika Mathews, the founder of Life Enrichment Group and Queen Care, spoke on the significance of a “thank you,” explaining the phrase is not given out enough in community, and “History Lives Here” was the ultimate acknowledgement. Mathews embodies the spirit of a "quiet champion," making an impact through love and dedication rather than public recognition.
"I've had my head in the sand for 25 years just quietly working and building because it's not about the accolades. I don't have time to be loud and boisterous. There's too much work to be done when we're talking about the lives of our young people," she asserted. She views her work as a serious responsibility, acknowledging, "These are young people's lives who could live or die based upon what support that we may or may not give them."
Bookie Gates, founder of Baseball Beyond Borders and another honoree, is a man driven by a deep love for his community. Recently recognized as an "everyday history maker," Gates humbly reflects on this honor, stating, "You do this work and you do this unconsciously just because of your love for community.” He sees his work with Baseball Beyond Borders as a "return on investment" for the sacrifices and contributions of his family, including his great-grandmother, grandmother, father, brothers, and mother.
While being surrounded by incredibly impactful pillars of Seattle’s community, Marcus Harden hopes that young people will realize they don't need to look to distant figures, but rather to the people in their own communities who are making a difference, and understand that they too can be the next person to shape history. The long-term vision is for a dynamic exhibit that expands beyond the speaker's personal connections to include youth, elders, and others doing important work, emphasizing community strength and the hero in all of us.
Visit naamnw.org/history-lives-here to learn more about the exhibit and more to come at the Northwest African American Museum.
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