Seattle’s Central District was alive with Black artistic excellence last month when Wa Na Wari put on its annual Walk the Block Festival. Walk the Block transformed the historic streets into a celebration of Black art and culture through moving expression and commitment to letting local artists shine brightly.

Wa Na Wari founders Inye Wokoma, Elisheba Johnson, Jill Freidberg, and Rachel Kessler envisioned the organization as a radical act of culture in pushing back against gentrification and displacement. Pooling their resources together, their mission was to create a space that celebrated Black art and culture in the rapidly changing neighborhood. Wokoma’s grandmother’s house in the Central District became the physical manifestation of their vision, a place where the community could gather and engage with art.

Walk the Block serves a dual and equally vital purpose: to educate new residents about the area's rich and often untold history while simultaneously elevating Black art and artists to a broader audience. Highlights of this year's event included acclaimed musician Saul Williams, alongside the myriad of live performances, paintings, and encapsulations of history and culture from local artists and beyond. 

Visit wanawari.org for more information. 

Catch Back2Besa every Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on FOX 13 Seattle and Sundays at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on FOX 13+. Viewers can also stream episodes anytime on the FOX Local app. 

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