YWCA

Read some of the stories we've written about local and national Black leaders from our past and present, and how you can support them.

• Black History Month: Pioneers and change makers
  Celebrate the accomplishments of Black leaders from our region and beyond, and engage in conversations about how to better support Black community members today.
• Black Women Heroes from Washington State History
  Highlighting trailblazing women from Washington State who strengthened our region through their economic, social, political, and civic work.
• The Black Women Who Saved Seattle Jazz
  Seattle’s vibrant jazz club scene of the 1940s produced famous musicians like Ray Charles and Quincy Jones. But the success of Seattle jazz bands was built on the union organizing skill of black women jazz players.
• Meet The Black Lesbian who Kick-Started the Gay Liberation Movement
  The history of the Stonewall Uprising, its importance to the Gay Liberation movement of today, and the black woman who's been erased from the history of this critical turning point.
• Centering Black Trans Womxn
  Listen to Black trans women share their stories, and learn how the intersection of their multiple marginalized identities makes them a greater target for violence and prejudice.
• Anita Hill and the fight to end gender-based violence
  In 1991, Anita Hill made history testifying before Congress about sexual harassment and confronting her abuser on national TV in front of millions. Since then, Anita has been at the forefront of the fight for justice for women and people of color, forging paths to equality inside and outside of the workplace.
• Let's Get in Formation: 125 Years of YW Women
  Paying homage to a few women who have helped shape the last 125 years of YWCA in Washington State. Because of these fearless and community-driven women, YWCA has created spaces for women and girls to network, have access to training, and find safe housing.
• A Homecoming for Phillis Wheatley
  YWCA marked a century of service to the women of Seattle's Central District by restoring the name of our branch there to Phillis Wheatley, the revolutionary-era Black poet and icon.

Understanding barriers and how to support:

• What’s the Difference Between an Ally and Accomplice?
  To move race and social justice work from theory to action, we must recognize that "ally" and "accomplice" are not interchangeable terms.
• Why We Use BIPOC
  Why YWCA, and many other organizations, are moving away from the term "people of color" and replacing it with BIPOC.
• Types of Racism: Internal, Interpersonal, Institutional, and Structural
  By understanding the different ways racism can manifest, we can understand the best ways to combat it as individuals and as a community.
• Antiracism in the Workplace: How To Move From Words to Action
  Unpacking how organizations can move from theory to action in making their workplaces antiracist: an interview with Dr. Sharon Knight.
• Supporting Reproductive Justice for People of Color
  The ability to control your own reproductive choices and bodily autonomy massively impacts all people, but especially BIPOC women. Learn how you can help make a difference.
• What are Microaggressions?
  Our conscious and subconscious biases can lead to comments and actions that are inherently harmful to marginalized communities. Learn how to identify these moments and acknowledge / unlearn the biases that cause them.
• What is Intersectionality, and why does it matter?
  Understand how different identities intersect, overlap, and are impacted by various systems of oppression, and see how people’s identities shape their experience in life based on their relationship to power.