National Council on Public History (NCPH; @publichistorian) Instagram Takeover, Day 2 of 5. Beyond Integrity in (X), Part I.
Let’s continue on this fantastic voyage:
Like Nick Cave, Oscar Micheaux, and others I have yet to mention like Ida B. Wells and even my own mother, Dolores Whiters, I am exploring controlling the narrative about Black people, our lived experience. For me, it is through the written word, especially in historical narratives, interpretations.
My first exposure to the power of the written word to destroy or preserve in their realm of history and historic preservation was during my time volunteering in Seattle on the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee of 4Culture and its ad hoc committee that I named, Beyond Integrity.
In 2015, I began volunteering in an organization, initially its organizer, retired Director of Preservation Services at King County’s @kc4culture Flo Lentz named, “Equity in Preservation”. By unanimous vote, my co-founders adopted the name I picked, “Beyond Integrity”.
What inspired Flo to found Beyond Integrity was the Seattle Landmarks Commission’s decision to not nominate for historic landmark designation a Black historic site in Seattle’s Central District, Liberty Bank. The primary reason for the decision was because the nomination form, written by the developer’s historic preservation consultant provided a strong enough case against the architectural integrity of the building at the time of the landmark hearing. Liberty Bank lacked enough architectural integrity to be a strong enough contender for Seattle landmark designation.
Oh, is this your stop? OK, to be continued …
- k. kennedy Whiters, AIA (@wrkSHapkilowatt . @beyond.integrity . @blackinhistpres . @unredacthefacts)
Credits:
1 - Beyond Integrity in (X) Conference Posters. Photo credit: @beyond.integrity
2 - Beyond Integrity Chalkboards. Photo credit: @iamkennedyw; Beyond Integrity’s initial community engagement activity: “I Heart This Place” chalkboard. Organizations checkout the boards for their events.
3 - Rainier Tower, my favorite Seattle Landmark. Looks like a pencil, no? Photo credit: @iamkennedyw